Hi Nikki,
I just read your reflection after reading John Paul II Dives in Misericordia. He speaks of God as 'rich in mercy'. In particular he argued that mercy results in a restoration of dignity in a manner more than human-based justice can ever achieve. Especially when you see reference to extrajudical killings and how poverty completly destroys all human dignity, I realize that it JPII was right that justice alone doesn't go far enough. JPII said it better (of course!)
However, the equality brought by justice is limited to the realm of objective and extrinsic goods, while love and mercy bring it about that people meet one another in that value which is man himself, with the dignity that is proper to him. At the same time, "equality" of people through "patient and kind" love does not take away differences: the person who gives becomes more generous when he feels at the same time benefitted by the person accepting his gift; and vice versa, the person who accepts the gift with the awareness that, in accepting it, he too is doing good is in his own way serving the great cause of the dignity of the person; and this contributes to uniting people in a more profound manner. Thus, mercy becomes an indispensable element for shaping mutual relationships between people, in a spirit of deepest respect for what is human, and in a spirit of mutual brotherhood. It is impossible to establish this bond between people, if they wish to regulate their mutual relationships solely according to the measure of justice.
Just something to think about for JPIC. Justice is a good first step, but we are called to even do more. We are called to exhibit mercy.
Pax, Pat