Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ Saint Luke 6,36-38.

«Jesus said to his disciples: "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.»

In this passage Jesus asks us to be merciful, not to judge, not to condemn and especially to forgive. Some might think that what Jesus asks of us in this passage is in contradiction with the demands of justice:

«BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR JUSTICE, FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED (MT 5,6)»

On the other hand, in the teaching of Jesus there is no contradiction, quite the contrary, because the person who is hungry and thirsty for justice can be identified with the one who desires to do God's will and strives to do so, and who will be satisfied with the joy he will get from it.

Luke 6:31 records the words of Jesus: «But as you want men to do to you, so do to them.»

This statement is in the same context and has drastically changed the conventional method of dealing with people, the quid pro quo (Matthew 5: 38-48).

Jesus and the adulteress

Rather than repaying others in the same coin, or trying to give them what they deserve, each of us - when possible and not prejudicial - should treat others in the same way as he would like to be treated in the same situation.
However, in my opinion, it is a mistake to confuse individual ethics and political ethics, that is, the practices valid in the particular of the individual with those of generality.
In fact, Jesus' teachings are always addressed to the individual, and never to state realities. It is the individual who must strive to direct others with his behavior and can orient towards good; political ethics, on the other hand, although inspired by the same ethical principles, concerns the whole of society.
Therefore political ethics can hardly use the identical praxis of the single individual. It seems so obvious to me that I am not going to add any further comment on this.

Political errors that have very positive purposes in the intention can instead produce very extensive and heavy negative consequences such as to make the result very negative, opposite to the intentions. And often cause disasters. Obtain the greatest evil and not the least possible evil.
In addition, in relations with others there are also issues of precedence to be respected. For example, when a person has responsibility for others, such as his wife, children or other family members, or even larger communities.
It is clear that if those who are entrusted to, are in any way threatened by someone or something, we must defend them, always respecting as much as possible the good principles, and considering the teachings of Jesus. They are the closest neighbor to us, so to speak.
If one did not do it he would be seriously lacking in justice. Jesus says it in other passages of the Gospel, even if they may have a second meaning underneath:

«Luke 11: 21-2221 When a strong man, well armed, guards his palace, all his possessions are safe.»

or also

«If the landlord knew at what time of night the thief was coming, he would not let his house be broken into»

THE GOSPEL IS COMPLEX AND IT IS NOT EASY TO INTERPRET CORRECTLY SOME STEPS. It is therefore necessary to add to our reading also the study of human history, accompanied by meditation and prayer. Only in this way we will be able to get help trying to contextualize the teaching of Our Lord not only for ourselves, but also to place them in complex, varied and multicultural human societies.
We are all human beings subject to mistakes, so we must always consider that the mercy of Jesus is infinite. We can be wrong, it is true, but always trying to avoid hypocrisy, which Jesus likes very, very little.

Lino Bertuzzi Marb, 06, 2022

End

  No fear! the Mercy of Jesus
  is INFINITE