Day Sixteen - Know Peace, Know Justice

One of my favourite verses in the Bible comes from the first chapter of the book of Isaiah:

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” – verse 17.

Justice lies at the heart of our faith. The word “justice” is defined on dictionary.com as the quality of being just and it is one of the qualities we should strive to enshrine in our lives. The word doesn’t appear in the list of fruits of the Spirit that appears in Galatians 5, but the word “Peace” does. I have often heard the phrase “Know peace, know justice” used and the two qualities have often been intertwined. When we live life in a just and honourable way then not only will we know peace, but those around us will too.

But too often in our world people are denied justice and know no peace. One of the stories that has most moved me to tears and prayer in recent times has been the official inquiry into the contaminated blood supplies of the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s. The Inquiry is examining why men, women and children in the UK were given infected blood and/or infected blood products; the impact on their families; how the authorities responded; the nature of any support provided following infection; questions of consent; and whether there was a cover-up. The Inquiry began in 2018 and could last for at least another 12 months.

The Inquiry heard the story of Dawn Zerbatini, aged 62, from Blackpool who was given a blood transfusion in 1984 following the birth of her daughter. At a well woman review in 2017, when Dawn was by then aged 58, it became clear that she had liver damage usually associated with drug abuse. An investigation revealed she had been infected with Hepatitis C in the blood transfusion when she was just 25. Although Dawn has undergone medical treatment to clear her viral load, she has a long-term heart problem and liver scarring. She also had to leave a job she loved because of the long-term health issues associated with the Hepatitis C Virus.

We must seek justice at all costs, in all walks of life. To know peace, to know goodness, to share God’s love.

Why not use the words from a very popular hymn as a way to speak to God today:

Dear Lord and Father of humankind,

Forgive our foolish ways;

Reclothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still, small voice of calm.

- John Greenleaf Whittier

Neil Chappell