These Are My JOTtings...

Justice or Forgiveness

To preach the Truth requires a Standard
that no man can break.
This Justice firm can ne'er be slandered,
just one road to take.

The little ones protect we must
upon this earthly sod.
Removed from harm is truly just.
So says the law of God.

But when the harmed is God Most High,
what Justice should he mete?
Remove that soul from Presence Nigh?
Or scandalous entreat?

So made like God we humans are
that harm to man or beast
inflames our hearts to Justice Bar
for low-life sot or priest.

But God once told his humans made,
"Don't lust for precious fruit."
The central tree of Garden bade,
"Don't steal or Word dilute."

His Justice merits Hell for all.
We are our father's seed.
But Calvary is each man's call,
the scandal that we need.

Our justice metes t'wards earthly acts
so often one-to-one.
But Heavenly Justice sees the facts
were paid in God, The Son.

As long as Earth spins daily 'round,
we'll do the best we can
to punish fool and moral clown.
Their presence from us ban.

But when the greater lesson's made,
forgiveness of some wrong,
then higher justice has been played
as words within a song.

Forgiveness is the scandal deep,
that God Alone can give,
and humans strengthened by Him reap
the life that He can live.

It's scandalous that human sinners
live eternally
through Christ's new life we now are winners,
our souls are truly free.

We get the Gift we can't pay for.
Our debts have been erased.
When walking through this Christ, the Door,
His gifted faith we place.

by Jay O'Toole
on October 8th, 2018