“Love justice, you who judge the earth” (Wisdom 1:1).
While visiting your grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, she brings out a board game for you and your cousins to play with in the basement while the adults are socializing. You head downstairs and set everything up on the floor. The game begins. Some of you get good rolls of the dice and some get bad rolls. Some of you make good decisions and some don’t. Soon enough, winners and losers begin to emerge, and you find yourself losing. If you had enough maturity and judgment, you would know how to appreciate the game, even while losing. But, alas, you are spoiled and petty, immature and selfish, so you throw a tantrum. Through your rage and your tears, you explain that “this game’s not fair!” To the puzzlement of everyone, you have suddenly acquired a concern for things being “fair.” Nobody is persuaded by your emotional plea.
If you really loved justice, you would accept the game as the gift that it is, with all its apparent imperfections. When the game is over, you would pack everything back up neatly and return it to your grandmother. You would tell her “thank you” and maybe even give her a little kiss.
Your life and this world are gifts given to you by someone who loves you. Whether you are winning or losing, you must accept things for what they are, with all their apparent imperfections. And, if you really love justice, in the end, you will give everything back to God. You will tell Him “thank you,” and maybe even give Him a little kiss. He has greater gifts in store.