Father Koch: At the root of mercy stands justice grounded in love
February 21, 2025 at 11:25 a.m.
Gospel reflection for Feb. 23, 2025, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the Sermon on the Plain Jesus instructs his disciples in practical mercy. Mercy, however, doesn’t stand on its own, it is always accompanied with justice. While on the surface these might seem to be conflicting values that is not the case. There is a necessary tension between the two, they ideally complement one another. Still either justice or mercy standing on its own incomplete. The call of Jesus is to live a life of mercy, and justice, but it must also be grounded in love. This love reflects not only God’s love and mercy for us, but also draws us deeper into self-sacrifice and carrying our cross.
Often interpreted as a demand for total passivity in the face of opposition, Jesus instead challenges his disciples to a form of passive defiance instead.
We live in a world which, at least on the surface, seems to be hostile to the Gospel and the demands of the Christian life. This places us in awkward situations and, in particular, when we act in ways that are seen as aggressive or hostile in return. Sadly, many Christians today prefer the hostile or bitter response to challenges posed by the world. Even more distressing is the open fractionation within the church. The rancor which has arisen, even from some of the bishops and other members of the clergy runs contrary to the Gospel we hear today.
Living a life of justice and mercy under the umbrella of love, is not just challenging, but it is the heart of how Jesus asked his disciples to live.
Jesus rejected a violent response to his arrest, instructing his disciples to scabbard their weapons and allow what was happening to take place.
When we feel cornered, or out of sorts with each other or with the world around us, we are faced with a clear choice, though it is not always easy to make. Human nature -- infected by sin -- says fight back, counterpunch, take the low road. The Christian response is to respond with mercy and justice.
Today it is easy to run to the courts to demand justice, and to sue for what we believe we are entitled. Do we not make a greater statement when we use our own resources and make sacrifices in order to do the right?
Our sense of rights comes more from the presumption of human enacted legislation and not from the core of the Gospel. Our sense of justice is more retribution than it is restorative. We want the satisfaction of winning instead of the hope that we are making a difference and working for the kingdom of God.
It is all too easy to use the language of the Gospel to justify the way of the world.
Jesus, instead, calls us to a more radical way of thinking: give without expectation; love without the need to be loved; be merciful even in the face of injustice. This is not easy, and at no point in the history of the Church have we been successful in doing this.
It is not supposed to be easy; in fact, outside of small communities, it is extremely difficult. Yet if we cannot live the demands of Jesus in little ways -- turning the other cheek, offering assistance to the poor, giving without the expectation of receiving; etc., how can we truly stand with Jesus when the going is difficult?
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel
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Gospel reflection for Feb. 23, 2025, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the Sermon on the Plain Jesus instructs his disciples in practical mercy. Mercy, however, doesn’t stand on its own, it is always accompanied with justice. While on the surface these might seem to be conflicting values that is not the case. There is a necessary tension between the two, they ideally complement one another. Still either justice or mercy standing on its own incomplete. The call of Jesus is to live a life of mercy, and justice, but it must also be grounded in love. This love reflects not only God’s love and mercy for us, but also draws us deeper into self-sacrifice and carrying our cross.
Often interpreted as a demand for total passivity in the face of opposition, Jesus instead challenges his disciples to a form of passive defiance instead.
We live in a world which, at least on the surface, seems to be hostile to the Gospel and the demands of the Christian life. This places us in awkward situations and, in particular, when we act in ways that are seen as aggressive or hostile in return. Sadly, many Christians today prefer the hostile or bitter response to challenges posed by the world. Even more distressing is the open fractionation within the church. The rancor which has arisen, even from some of the bishops and other members of the clergy runs contrary to the Gospel we hear today.
Living a life of justice and mercy under the umbrella of love, is not just challenging, but it is the heart of how Jesus asked his disciples to live.
Jesus rejected a violent response to his arrest, instructing his disciples to scabbard their weapons and allow what was happening to take place.
When we feel cornered, or out of sorts with each other or with the world around us, we are faced with a clear choice, though it is not always easy to make. Human nature -- infected by sin -- says fight back, counterpunch, take the low road. The Christian response is to respond with mercy and justice.
Today it is easy to run to the courts to demand justice, and to sue for what we believe we are entitled. Do we not make a greater statement when we use our own resources and make sacrifices in order to do the right?
Our sense of rights comes more from the presumption of human enacted legislation and not from the core of the Gospel. Our sense of justice is more retribution than it is restorative. We want the satisfaction of winning instead of the hope that we are making a difference and working for the kingdom of God.
It is all too easy to use the language of the Gospel to justify the way of the world.
Jesus, instead, calls us to a more radical way of thinking: give without expectation; love without the need to be loved; be merciful even in the face of injustice. This is not easy, and at no point in the history of the Church have we been successful in doing this.
It is not supposed to be easy; in fact, outside of small communities, it is extremely difficult. Yet if we cannot live the demands of Jesus in little ways -- turning the other cheek, offering assistance to the poor, giving without the expectation of receiving; etc., how can we truly stand with Jesus when the going is difficult?
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel