Ascetical Works

On Mercy and Justice

ON MERCY AND JUSTICE IBlLESS ME, FATHER: Because the world is forgetting n God, my brethren, injustice to neighbor and inhuU manity to the weak prevail, confirming the words of the holy Apostle: 'As they liked not to have God in their knowledge, Gad delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient. Being filled with all iniquity, malice, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, prO\ld, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, foolish, without affection, without mercy.'l These sinners God is calling back to His service and He is instructing them to refrain from vice and to be diligent in showing compassion toward their neighbor, as the Prophet Isaias taught, speaking in God's stead: 'Cease to do perversely; learn to do well.'2 The law contains many injunctions forbidding us to wrong our neighbor and many precepts directing us to be merciful and compassionate. If either of these admonitions be neglected, the other does not by itself justify a man. Benefactions to the needy, financed by unjust gains, are not acceptable with God; yet, a man who refrains from committing injustices, but does not share the goods he possesses with anyone, is not deserving of praise. With reference to the unjust who dare to offer gifts to God, it is written: 'The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord';3 and, regarding the unmerciful: 'He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself and shall not I Rom. 1.28-31. 2 Isa. 1.16-17. 3 Provo 15.8. 507 508 SAINT BASIL be heard.'4 Proverbs, therefore, gives us also the admonition: 'Honor the Lord with thy just labors and give him of the first fruits of thy justice.'5 If you will make an offering to God from the fruits of injustice and rapine, it would be better not to possess such wealth and not to make an offering. An undefiled gift will carry our prayer to heaven, as it is written: 'the vows of the just are acceptable with him.'6 On the other hand, if you have acquired gains from honest toil and do not make offerings to God, whereby the poor may be fed, robbery will be alleged against you, as He says through ¥alachy: 'First fruits and tithes are in· your possession and there will be plunder in your houses.'7 You must, therefore, combine justice with mercy, spending in mercy what you possess with justice, as it is written: 'Keep mercy and justice and draw near to thy God always.'B Because God loves mercy and justice , he who takes care to do mercy and justice draws near to God. It remains, then, for each to examine himself and for the rich man to take careful inventory of the private resources from which he is to offer gifts to God, to make sure that he has not oppressed a poor man, or used force against one weaker than himself, or cheated one dependent upon him, thus exercising license rather than justice. We are bidden to practice fairness and justice also toward our slaves. Do not employ force because you are in command and do not take advantage because it is within your power to do so. On the contrary, show forth the deeds of justice because you are able to perform the deeds of power. Your fear of God and your obedience to Him are not exhibited in abstaining from acts which are beyond your competence, but in that, being able 4 Provo 21.13. 5 Prov.3.9. 6 Provo 15.8. 7 Mal. 3.8,10 (Septuagint). 8 Osee 12.6. ON MERCY AND JUSTICE 509 to transgress the law, you do not transgress it.9 If you give alms to the poor after you have despoiled them of their goods, it were better for you neither to have taken nor given. Why do you defile the wealth that is rightfully yours by adding unjust gains to it? Why do you make the gift from injustice which you are daring to offer an abomination by forming the intention of showing mercy to some other poor man? Be merciful to the one whom you have wronged. Exercise benevolence toward him. Show him kindness and you will fulfill the duty of mercy...