They Who Do Justice

They Who Do Justice Patronage in the Middle Eastern culture is a highly valued social institution. In the Middle Ages the Catholic Church became patrons of the arts – musicians, painters, sculptors, etc. Today, patrons donate money to hospitals, universities, museums, other causes. The key idea in Psalm 15 is “doing justice.” A person with surplus was bound to share it, but not necessarily to the neediest. The psalmist challenges us to act justly and walk blamelessly. In the Hebrew world, justice focused on right relationships. To live justly was to create life-giving relationships in all of creation. As we pray Psalm 15, we are challenged to be a patron of the marginalized, the needy, the voiceless. Giving should not be an ego-trip but rather to create a life-giving relationship with another and find God in the other. God, who is welcome in your house? Who can rest on your holy mountain? Those who walk with integrity and do only what is right, speaking the truth with courage. They never spread slander or abuse their friends or condemn their neighbors.They disdain the godless, but honor those who believe. Before God, they give their word and keep it at any cost. They neither lend for gain nor take bribes against the guiltless. These are the just: they stand for ever unshaken. [verses adapted from The Psalter © 1995, Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications.]