God's relation to us

The last line of the first reading (Jer 23: 1-6) is the glue that binds together Sunday’s three readings: "This is the name they gave Him: ‘Yahweh, our justice.’" But only those who appreciate the biblical meaning of "justice" will understand its adhesive force.

Scripture scholars point out that when we speak about "social justice," we’re demonstrating that we still haven’t "got" what our sacred authors intend for us to get when they refer to justice. It’s biblically redundant to use the words social and justice back to back.

"Justice" is Scripture-talk for relationships. When we relate to others, we’re just. When God relates to us, God’s just. One can’t be just without being social. The building of relationships is essential to justice: either our relationship to God and others, or God’s relationship to us.

Ciphers

We’re not the first people in history to sense that we’re just a number or a demographic dot. Those who deal with us on a daily basis frequently know little or nothing about our personality.

They don’t care about our likes or dislikes; they have no desire to discover our fears and dreams. It would take too long to uncover those dimensions, de-mand too deep a commitment, or lead down paths they have no desire to tread. It’s far easier and quicker to stay on the surface; to learn only those things that pertain to their "business" with us. Anything more probably would create problems.

Both those who composed our sacred writings, and those who saved and passed then down to us believed that God deals with us in a completely different way and expects us to deal with others in the same way. God is interested in everything we are and do, concerned about whatever’s going on in our minds and hearts, fascinated by what distinguishes us from others.

That’s why Jeremiah, speaking about his community’s leaders, contrasts Yahweh with "the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of the pastures,...[those] who scatter the sheep and drive them away." The prophet believes not only that Yahweh will one day "appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so they need no longer fear and tremble," but also, when that doesn’t work, that Yahweh will become their justice. If their civil and religious leaders can’t relate to them as persons, Yahweh certainly can and will.

Relationship

Mark conveys this when he speaks about Jesus’ heart being moved with pity for all who hastened on foot from the towns to hear Him (Mk 6: 30-34): "For they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things."

Paul surfaces an even deeper dimension of God’s justice when he writes to the Ephesians about the unplanned phenomenon of Gentiles joining the early Christian community (Eph 2: 13-18). God is not only concerned with each of us on a personal level, but also wishes us to share that concern.

Paul reasons that, because Jesus has become one with each person by shedding His blood for them, He’s able to bring us (Gentiles) near who were once "far off." Since He has a passion to relate uniquely to every human being, He’s able to break down the facade that hides our real self from others.

By accomplishing this, Jesus becomes "our peace, He who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through His flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that He might create in Himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and reconciled both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it."

Jews and Gentiles are now one in Christ only because of the risen Jesus’ ability and desire to build relationships with all people, and our efforts to build and maintain those same relationships.

If God’s not just, we’re in trouble. If we’re not just, the world’s in trouble.