Preparing for the Kingdom through penance

A woman prays during an open air mass by Pope Francis in Yangon November 29, 2017. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • The list of sins against justice would cover many pages.
  • Fraud means lying to convince someone that you deserve something and then accepting it as if you truly deserved it.
  • Political corruption includes any abuse of public office where politicians, judges, police or other government officials abuse their authority.

A friend of mine was recently thrown into the cells over the weekend.

His crime? Waiting for a matatu to go home after visiting his grandmother. Was it a case of mistaken identity? Those who know how it works know how it works. 

All who have suffered unlawful arrest or any other kind of injustice know the feeling. We look forward to a “kingdom of justice”. We understand why the Jews longed for the coming of their Redeemer. We understand why they often read Isaiah’s words: “He will not judge by appearances. He will judge with integrity and give fair sentence.

He will strike with the rod of his mouth. With the breath of his lips, he will bring death to the wicked.” He will bring true justice and peace. 

The list of sins against justice would cover many pages. Let me mention a few. Fraud means lying to convince someone that you deserve something and then accepting it as if you truly deserved it. Typical examples of fraud include forging invoices, using inaccurate weights to cheat customers and collecting payment for goods when you have no intention of delivering. 

Political corruption includes any abuse of public office where politicians, judges, police or other government officials abuse their authority by forcing someone to give them money they have no right to receive. It also includes stealing public funds. Both extortion and the theft of public funds are worse than merely stealing. First, because politicians take an oath of office, promising God they will not steal public funds. It is a great sin when you try to cheat God. 

What are the other reasons stealing public funds is especially evil? It is impossible to stop a thief from stealing if the thief is the one in charge of punishing theft. He will steal from you and then laugh at you for being stupid enough to put in him charge of protecting your money. 

Finally, it is a great crime because the poor suffer most. Stealing public funds is the same as stealing from the poor. As the Letter to the Romans says: “Your stubborn refusal to repent is only storing up retribution for yourself on that Day of Retribution when God’s just verdicts will be made known. He will repay everyone as their deeds deserve.” 

Penance for sins against justice is one of the reasons for Advent. Once a year we recall the Second Coming, when Jesus will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. As Scripture says: “Now is the day of salvation.” Now is the time to be sorry and repent.
 
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