What is justice?

Today is Monday, and the OT reading for Proper 8 comes from Numbers 32. The sons of Reuben and the sons of God come to Moses as the Hebrews are about to cross over into what will become Israel.  They say, this is a nice place, this place where we are right now: why don't we stay here with our cattle, and the rest of you can cross on over. That side of the river was perfect for them and their cattle, and they had a lot of cattle. But Moses answered, would it be right for everyone else to go off to war while you stay here?

The NT reading is from Romans. "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." This is a fairly extraordinary statement from someone who claimed to have God's special favor, but who was repeatedly beaten for preaching the Gospel. It's the sort of thing you would not expect a person of St. Paul's circumstances to say unless he thought it was really, really true. 


In what sense could it have been true? In the Gospel reading for today, Jesus warns his listeners, don't think you can get ahead just by doing what other people tell you to do, even if those people are truly devoted to living holy lives, if what they tell you comes from their own wisdom.  If you want to get ahead, he says, then try not to get ahead: the greatest among you is the chief servant. If you want a teacher, then stop wanting a teacher. Let God Himself be your teacher. 


There is such a thing as justice. God cares about what you do and what you do not do. But it is not comfortable. In fact, acting in accordance with justice may mean that you wind up proclaiming--having to proclaim--that things have worked out perfectly in the sense that you have lost everything for your faith.   You cannot get this justice by listening to what other people tell you. You get it by service, and you get it by humility.