Jurisprudence (and other words that make me look smart)
JUSTICE.
it’s one of those words…
the kind of word that looks like it is ready to circumnavigate the globe via steam ship.
Why?
Because of the baggage it has to carry (groan).
But seriously, just a simple “Googling” of the word can bring up pages ranging from court cases and jurisprudence to political rants that have key words like Marxism, Communism, Classism, and pretty much any other “ism” you can think of.
Is a shame really because at its core Justice is a pretty humble and unpretentious concept, it’s one goal is peace.
Peace, there’s another word.
Its amazing really when you think about it how some of the most simple, universal, and inherent ideas have been co-opted by different groups and either put up on a pedestal or thrown to the wolves.
But I digress.
For the past few weeks we as a community have been looking at the idea of Oiktirmos the Greek word for compassion found in the book of Philippians, it is a very profound translation of the word, because it speaks to having a love for others that is more than a surface love or appreciation for our fellow humans, but instead delves into our inner workings. It could be said that this type of compassion is a type of “soul love” for others, a love that is literally a part of our physical and spiritual DNA. It’s not compassion as an action or event, but as a part of who we are as an individual.
It’s about being proactive with our love, not just reactive.
And so this week we come to the idea of Justice, the idea that all too often unfair things happen to innocent people, that in this world there are those who are being oppressed, taken advantage of, there are people who have very few if anyone to stand up for them, when they can no longer stand for themselves.
This is not a conversation about ethics, utilitarianism, crime and punishment, or the redistribution of wealth. It’s not a discussion about politics or social issues. It’s about you and me and our responsibility to seeking out avenues of fairness within our own lives and reaching out to the mistreated and oppressed.
This weeks Gathering: Sunday 10:30am @ the Ewing’s 118 Whitney Road Lancaster, PA. 17603
**New friends, old friends, strangers, dreamers, doubters, questionuats, and seekers are always welcome!
The Material that is currently being used for Confirmation Class says that, whereas compassion meets the needs of the individual, justice take on the underlying cause of their condition and tried to solve it. This is done without regard to race, sex, orientation, or any of the other dividers in our society. I feel that the two, compassion and justice, need to work hand in hand. Because, to screw with Spock’s head, The needs of the many are equal to the needs of the few or the one.