Justice Isn’t Entitlement
For the man who humbly lives in the created reality of God, justice is not merely the right ordering of society, but his delight. “Precious store there is and good cheer where justice dwells” (Proverbs 21:20, Knox). In the broadest sense, justice is everything “right.” (The Latin root jus means right). “Justice is every virtue,...
Justice is a Good and Happy Word
The image we have of a “just judge” is likely not a lively and happy one, whether we’re talking of God or an earthly judge. Scowling, considering, and starring – the just judge looks through our excuses and sees the crud we’re trying to hide, right? Justice isn’t fluffy like love. It strips down the nuance of the treebark to see t...
Virtue at Work: Promoting Justice in the Workplace
Justice is generally best known by its counterpart – injustice. Justice has been defined as giving everyone their due or using strengths as a means to provide for the betterment of those who are marginalized or vulnerable. Many might label as fair, honest or upholding integrity. Again, justice tends to be exemplified when it is most absent. ...
Four Truths We Need to Tell About Forgiveness
Forgiveness is absolutely central to our faith. Most of us know this and simply take it as a given. But we must remember that forgiveness is not commonplace. Many who have been wronged bear a heavy burden of bitterness, and those who have wronged them bear a crippling sense of shame. At root, this is a spiritual problem, and it’s a proble...
Why Men Love the Work of the Latin Mass
Work is the blessing and curse of man. Work is the vocation of man even before the Fall, as God placed Adam in the Garden to till and keep it. Work became a burden as a punishment for sin, but man works out his salvation toiling at his labor. Men are made for work and find fulfillment in it. Liturgy is a central expression of man’s vocation to...
Restoring Justice to Politics
I had a teacher in high school who provided the class with an interesting definition of politics. Defining politics, he maintained, was as simple as just breaking down the word into its parts: poly = many, tics = blood-sucking creatures. I think we can all agree that’s pretty accurate… All jokes aside, the sad reality is that many people...
Legalize It?
In 2012, when I voted against Amendment 64, meant to legalize marijuana in Colorado, I laughed off the ballot measure, thinking it would not have a chance of passing. Oops. Ever since, I have been disturbed by what’s been happening in Colorado. I initially wrote a few pieces criticizing the legalization from a philosophical, theological, and cult...