This morning at breakfast I was lamenting the state of our world and, more specifically, the state of our country. As I read the seemingly endless stories about the seemingly endless bailouts, I told my husband that I no longer feel like I can honestly tell my children that if they work hard and treat people right, they will get ahead in this life. I mean, we all know that life is not inherently "fair," but deep down I think most of us hope that general fairness will follow those who don't succumb to the gospel of greed and me first.
I have to admit, justice and fairness are a big part of who I am. I want to see justice done, not just for myself but for those around me. I hate to bring in astrology here, but I truly live up to my classification as a Libra with its blatant need for balance on that symbol of the scales. So when I picked up my Lenten reflection for the day, I was smacked right between the eyes with this statement:
"We are called to follow a way of life that is unconventional, drastically different. The nicely balanced scales of justice are not our logo. Our logo is the cross."
OK, I get it. Message received, even if it isn't an easy message to hear. The scales of justice make a lot more sense in our society than the cross does. In fact, for many people, the cross doesn't make any sense at all. All the more reason that those of us who follow Christ have to live by his commandment to love others as ourselves or, even one better, to love our enemies and those who hate us.
No one wants to willingly take up the cross, and yet that is what we are called to do. So maybe in place of preaching my credo to live right to get a just reward, I can remind my children to love right. The reward will come later. Much, I hope.
