On Truth, Justice, and Grace

Father Greg Boyle, a priest in Los Angeles runs what is essentially a gang rehabilitation center. He finds jobs for men and women who have done terrible, terrible things, and when he cannot find them jobs, he offers them work.

Father Greg tells the story of a drive-by shooting in which young girl, under ten years old, who clearly has nothing to do with the gangs is killed by a stray bullet. It’s a horrific thing. I don’t recall all of the details, but how could they be anything other than heartbreaking?

Father Greg attends the funeral, after which, he finds the girl’s mother. He offers her his condolences. Weeps for her. The girl’s mother is distraught of course, and she rejects his offer of kindness. She berates him for his work with the gangs. She is so angry at Father Greg for supporting these once-killers, these drug dealers and these vicious criminals, and they are truly all of these things. The mother wants, more than anything, for Greg to use his voice for truth. For justice. But not for grace. Definitely not grace.

What does he do? He weeps with the mother. Sits with her in her pain. Accepts her anger, directed squarely at him, in silence.

And then returns his office and continues his work.

Who knows? Perhaps one of the gang members who were involved in that very shooting walks into his office. He does not seem to spend much time shining a bright light on the evil they have done. He does not deny that what they do is evil. But it is not at the center of his conversations. At the center is his insistence that God is far, far bigger than even their worst acts. At the center is his insistence that God loves them anyway. Father Greg is not in the justice business. He is in the grace business. Or, maybe better said, he is a grace ambassador.

And that is where I find myself. Wondering if the greatest truth is grace, and that when I conflate truth and justice, I miss the mark.

Maybe the greatest truth is that grace is bigger than justice. And may that is the very point of the gospel. Maybe my calling is to be a grace ambassador.

After I wrote this, I read Romans 12. And this part stopped me short:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Wondering if that isn’t the part that I’ve missed. That not everyone is given the gift of mercy, and that is okay. I’ve been searching for a one-size fits all gospel. Still wondering. Still wandering….