Who is the person that is just? Our Responsorial Psalm for today offers us a beautiful reflection on what it is to live a life that is just – in right relationship with God and other persons.
                The just person is gracious and merciful. To be gracious is to be courteous and kind. Our society today has many rough edges. The just person helps to smooth those rough edges through simple acts of courteousness and kindness – to treat everyone person with the same respect, to preface every request with the simple word, “Please,” and to respond to every deed done for you with the simple words, “Thank you.” It is to hold the door for other persons. It is to let another vehicle enter traffic from a parking lot or cross street. It is to offer help to someone struggling with packages or bags. At the end of this day, look back on your day. Did you move through this day graciously and kindly, or brusquely and rudely? To be merciful is, of course, to be ready to forgive. It is not to hold grudges or harbor animosity toward others. How merciful am I? How quick am I to forgive? How quick am I to let go of feelings of resentment toward other persons?
                The just person has a steadfast heart and lavishly gives to the poor. To have a steadfast heart is to be consistent in your desire to make your life an ever more faithful reflection of the life of Jesus Christ. This is a challenge for all of us, but a challenge that we have to meet if we are to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, persons whose hearts are, indeed, steadfast – persons who are consistent in our efforts to follow Jesus and his way of compassion, mercy and generosity. The just person gives lavishly to the poor. We are not called to impoverish ourselves in our desire to help others. We are, however, called to share what we have with those who have less and to do so with a generous spirit and not a begrudging heart. We should not focus on what we sacrifice, but rather on what we gain – the opportunity to help others and to mirror in our lives the same lavish, undeserved, unmerited generosity that God has shown to us.
                May all of us one day be counted among the just of God! 
                                Fr. Mark Hallinan, S.J