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I came across a thought in a little book of odds and ends by G. K. Chesterton.  I have not sufficiently appreciated Chesterton. He brings vast learning and sensitive insight into a vast range of Christen topics—which is entirely appropriate for a vast and rumpled man.

Chesterton refers to a story about a faithful dog and a faithless cat. That children’s story , said Chesterton, was defective because it never made the contrast clear. Children, he said, “are innocent and love justice; while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy”.  It is a simple line but a profound thought. It was in Dorothy L. Sayers mind when she said “Don’t pray for justice. You might get it”.

The thought comes up in our lives now and then because we often have two standards. When someone close to us, a family member, a colleague, or a friend, is clearly guilty of some offence, and is being judged by, say, a court of law, we hope for the hand of mercy. When we are the victim, however, we do hope for justice.

That’s the way it is for humankind. And that is why Jesus tells us to take the log out of our own eye before we spend too much time looking for the speck in our neighbor’s eye.