Thomas Lovatt

Justice, according to Plato is that state of affairs in which all agencies are entirely fulfilled and yet are free from conflict. [Where every one can “mind their own business” in peace.] Justice is, of necessity, the constitutional form of the divine essence.

Justice should exist within the human soul. This is “interior justice” and is otherwise known as holiness, wholeness or enlightenment. The Apostle Peter tells us that we are “called to share in the divine nature” and St Paul has a great deal to say about how Christians are made just (that is “justified”) by cooperating with God’s grace.

Justice should also exist within society. This is “exterior justice” and is advanced by charitable works and the spread of friendship, kindness and compassion as the basis for social engagement.

It is impossible for an individual to aspire to holiness without engaging in the process of striving to improve the participation of human society with the Ideal form of Justice. St James tells us that he who simply theorises about God is no true theologian; but only he who engages with the plight of the marginalised. Our divine Lord makes exactly the same point in His parable of “sheep and goats”.

When we pray “May Thy Kingdom come and may Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” we are asking for our human society to become more humane, kind, compassionate and friendly and just; in the sorrowful knowledge that within history “the poor will always be with us”. We do so in the confidence that “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied.”