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JUSTICE OR VENGEANCE? (NUMBERS 35:9-15)

REFLECTION

“Justice or vengeance” is the theme for our reflection. Justice is the fairness in the way people are dealt with. Again, justice means people are to be treated impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably by the law and by arbiters of the law. It suggests that laws are to ensure that no harm befalls another, and that, where harm is alleged, remedial action is taken for both the accuser and the accused to receive a morally right consequence merited by their actions. Vengeance, on the other hand, is the act of killing, injuring, or harming someone because they have harmed you. We shall reflect on the fact that justice is the lawful means of seeking vengeance but vengeance on its own may not serve the course of justice.

Dear friend in the Lord, to establish justice or fair trial in criminal or murder cases, God gave laws to the Israelites to ensure that before a person is made to suffer the death penalty for taking another’s life, he or she must first be tried to be sure that the alleged murder was intentional or not. While the trial is ongoing the accused person must kept in safe custody. The keeping of the accused person while he or she is made to face trial is also an important element of the justice system because a person must be found guilty by a competent court or tribunal on the basis of existing law before being punished. It is for this reason, “… the LORD said to Moses: 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 11 select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. 12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.” (Numbers 35:9-12). In other words, everyone’s right to life and human dignity must be respected until such a right or dignity is taken from the person through a lawful or just means.

In criminal law, for a person to be found guilty of murder, he must have the mens rea or evil intention of killing the deceased and actually proceed to engage in an actus reus or prohibited act of killing the person. It is important to note that the mens rea or intention to kill the person and the actus reus or the act of killing the person must be contemporaneous or happen at the same. However, if the person never had the intention of killing the deceased but his action led to the death of the deceased then the death will be deemed to be accidental, hence, the person will not be found guilty of murder. In contemporary criminal law, murder through accidental and negligent means are not the same. A person who kills another out of his or her negligence will be found guilty of manslaughter instead of murder. He may suffer a lesser punishment of a custodial sentence rather than a death penalty. In other words, justice requires that a person who is accused of murder must be tried to truly ascertain the fact that he actually meant and indeed killed the deceased. If he is found to be guilty by the court or during the trial, then vengeance will take its lawful course through the court. It is for this reason that God said to Moses, “If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 17 Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 18 Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. (Numbers 35:16-18). The law exists to seek vengeance on behalf of the victims of crime.

Beloved in the Lord, God requires us to have a society governed by laws or just rules and systems. It would be total anarchy if everyone was given the right to avenge the death of his or her friend or family member without criminal trial or a justice system. If we want peace and security in our nation then we must ensure that there is justice. If we have just or fair trials in our courts, people will not suffer for acts done accidentally nor be left off the hook for criminal acts. A corrupt judiciary gives birth to injustice or unjust outcomes thereby making people take the law into their own hands to seek vengeance instead of justice and orderliness in the society. We need justice and not vengeance, for the end result of justice is measured and reasonable vengeance, but the outcome of mere vengeance is unmeasured and unlawful loss of lives and properties. Justice seeks retribution that serves the good of the society, however, vengeance seeks retribution through bitterness and destruction that does not consider the welfare of the society but the satisfaction of the avenger.

In summary, we have reflected on the question and theme, “justice or vengeance?” We have learnt that Justice is the lawful means of seeking vengeance but vengeance on its own may not serve the course of justice. We must promote just or fair trials in our courts or ensure that we have a just and fair legal and judicial system to avoid arbitrary vengeance. Justice is our collective effort of seeking vengeance through the judicial system but vengeance is individual citizens seeking justice through their arbitrary actions. Pope Paul VI’s declaration is worthy of our concluding statement he said “If you want peace work for justice”

PRAYER

Dear Lord, we pray for justice to prevail in our legal system and courts so that we shall experience peace and not bitterness and vengeance in our nation. Amen.