The eyes that see what you see
To hear the things you hear
A privilege a pinnacle and a prize
The Lord himself the treasure found
The summit of all sense
The way the truth the life
The great surprise
The detective looks for justice
To right the wrongs now done
The judge he gives the sentence
How long a time will run
The warlord looks for vengeance
Eye and tooth the same
The priest gives absolution
Is that the end of game?
We’re taught about restitution
Making up for things now lost
But what if it is innocence
How can you pay that cost?
Some hurts are far too terrible
Beyond our healing balm
But not beyond the power of God
The giver of all calm
The Lord who came among us
And preached his healing truth
Is ever close beside us
And will restore our youth
And people that are hurting
And riven to the core
Will find the power of healing
In the crucified once more
Brian Fahy
30 November 2021
+ In the Church we never dealt with crime. We dealt only with sin. Sin was confessed in dark confessionals where sinners never saw the light. If sin emerged from the confessional into a broader room of knowledge, the person was sent away for ‘treatment’, and then hopefully returned to ministry. Two huge errors occurred here. The perpetrator/sinner needed far more help than they actually got, and the offended person, usually a minor, was completely ‘not even given consideration’. A third damage was done by inflicting a dangerous person onto an unsuspecting community.
The person of Jesus embodies all wisdom and grace and the Church hopes to absorb these graces. But we have failed to do so very badly.
It is a great human ideal and ambition in life to become wise in dealing with all that comes our way. To practise justice, yes, for everyone, and also mercy. Mercy does not dilute justice. It completes it.
Erris Poetry 