“We live in a world of emotional reactions, sharp words, and quick hatred. This is what immediately distances us from Christ. There is no need to fear and run from reality and pain. We need to “clothe them in Christ”. Sanctity is born during persecutions, blood, and fear. To give Christ preeminence means entering into this onerous reality together with Him, and to not let go of His hand.”—Metropolitan Luke Kovalenko
If I am not mindful, my intense desire for justice sours all goodness. Hatred is kindled, and more often than not, emotions and sharp words cast off Christ in my exchanges. I am another clanging cymbal in the madness. The reality and pain of the injustices become burdens too great to bear. And this reaction grows my shame—in face of heartache, my emotional behavior turns the attention to myself, not Justice at all.
But, the injustices are not unbeknown to Him, the God of the Universe, the God Who loves the whole world and demands we do the same. He is after all, the God Who hung in the fray of injustice. It was through the madness of man that He died a criminal’s death, being innocent all the same.
And so, this God, in the face of injustice, rose to the challenge, literally, and offers a different way than the madness. He offers Mercy.
Angry words and hatred strip me naked of Christ, and there is nothing more dangerous to a soul. There is no Love exposed in tantrums.
The only way I can manage my sensitivities to injustices, is not by matching the world’s sharp exchanges, but holding onto the hand of Christ through this onerous reality, and allowing His way to be my own. For I know this to be true:
“God’s love is perfect because God is perfect. It’s perfect because it doesn’t manifest itself in palaces and at feasts, but on the Cross; it reveals itself to us in suffering. We love God and others only in peaceful times and in satiety; and even then, mostly with our mouths. But God loves us always—especially in times of adversity and temptation. He loves us when we pray and when we sleep; when we go to church and when we go to the tavern; when we repent, and when we sin. He always loves us as a kind and merciful Father. In times of danger, in times of temptation, we run, we hide, we betray our brother, we lie, we even kill, just to survive. But God loves us to the end (cf. Jn. 13:1). In times of danger, He doesn’t abandon us, but goes ahead, carries our cross for us, is the first to ascend upon it, is the first to endure blows, and the first to die in the flesh so that we might live.” —Archimandrite Iachint Unciuleac
angie dicken 