Those who are just must be kind — Wisdom 12: 19
I think it is safe to say that one of the most common images of justice is the blindfolded woman (Lady Justice) holding a scale and a sword. She actually wasn’t blindfolded until the 15th century. The blindfold represents objectivity, in that justice is or should be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness. Although this figure represents many ancient goddesses from Egypt (Maat, Isis) to Hellenic Greece (Themis, Dike) to Rome (Iustitia), the symbol does not encapsulate how we understand biblical justice.
In Father John Heagle’s book, Justice Rising: The Emerging Biblical Vision (Orbis, 2010), he writes: “Biblical justice is not blind or neutral, It sees with the eyes of God. It feels with the heart of God. It [biblical justice] is an urgent call to see the plight of the poor and to respond with passion and commitment. In this sense, we can say that God’s justice is ‘tilted’ in favor of those who are victimized by unjust social structures or whose voices are silenced by oppressors. Recent Christian social teaching has recovered this biblical vision of justice by emphasizing the ‘preferential option for the poor’ ” (62). Heagle also states that, “Biblical justice is inherently relational and focused on the common good” (61). It is here that we see the kindness of our just Lord. There are many unjust situations in the world today that are completely man- made and lacking thought for the common good. For instance, reflect on the often-unjust situations in which our farm workers labor, such as low wages, inadequate health care, lack of access to essential medical and dental services, and stringent immigration laws.
“In 2025,. . .the workforce that powers the fields and farms across the country remains largely composed of undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants in agriculture are the hidden yet essential workforce, filling critical gaps left by native-born citizens and legal residents. In fact, studies estimate that approximately 50-70 percent of all agricultural labor in the U.S. is performed by undocumented workers. This equates to over one million individuals who, despite harsh challenges and limited legal rights, are indispensable to the productivity and sustainability of American food production.” Undocumented Immigrants In Agriculture: Key Stats And Insights
Most of all, these are fellow human beings and deserve our concern. Let us see and act with the eyes and the heart of God.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director
Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Raleigh,