Gras â chariad megis dilyw Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Yn ymdywallt ymâ 'nghyd, poured incessant from above,
A chyfiawnder pur â heddwch and heav'n's peace and perfect justice
Yn cusanu euog fyd kissed a guilty world in love.
Dyma gariad fel y moroedd by William Rees,
English translation (Here is love vast as the ocean) by William Edwards
(The Baptist Book of Praise, 1900)
Within the UK legal system, justice is the principle of treating people fairly and impartially under the law. This notion is derived from the Christian belief that all people are equal before God and should be treated with fairness and dignity.
Today’s chosen hymn brings together the Biblical notions of justice and peace, considering them gifts of God’s atonement. We are all sinners and therefore guilty, but are nonetheless kissed by the peace and perfect justice flowing from above.
But what is ‘perfect justice’? As humans we cannot help but be influenced by our environment. As individuals we come together to form part of our ever-changing world and all the influence that comes with it. Our idea of justice is therefore a reflection of our environment. The notion of ‘social justice’ is prevalent today, and is very much influenced by modern societal attitudes. A snap world view in a changing world. Each person reading this may have their own notion of justice, which probably differs from that held by our parents and grandparents. Our grandchildren will probably grow up with a different view to ours. Our world is ever changing.
For stability, therefore, we must return to Scripture. For God can provide a constant amid the change. And as Christians, our faith gives us comfort. For on earth, justice sometimes seems lacking. Where was the justice for those leaping to their death from the burning Twin Towers, for example? But we have hope. We have hope through our risen Saviour. It is not Christ’s birth, life, or even death that gives the greatest hope. But His resurrection. Through His resurrection we have hope not just in this world, but also in the next. True justice, along with everything else that is good and true, will be laid before us when we stand in glory before our Lord. It is Christ that provides, in a literal translation of William Rees’ original words, chyfiawnder pur â heddwch, a pure justice with peace.
So if we find ourselves struggling with the complexities, division, and problems of the modern world, we may wonder where to seek justice. For the answer we need only look at title of the tune to which today’s hymn is set, Dim ond Iesu, the translation of which means ‘None but Jesus’.
Dear Father,
In our guilty world we pray, quite simply, that Your will be done.
Amen.
Gwyn Davies
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