What is beyond justice is charity. We cannot have charity without justice. But we could have justice without charity, writes Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado msp of the Catholic Church.

A friend of mine said to me, “I’m a good person, honest in making my business, and charitable to my employees.” I asked, “Why did you say I am a good person, honest and charitable?” He replied, “You see there are many youths without work, so I employed most of them in my company. I gave them good salary of $40 per day, not the standard. But I employed many.” Is there justice and charity in that story?

Justice and charity, while both essential to the Christian moral framework, represent distinct yet complementary virtues that guide human interaction and societal structures.

Justice

Justice is defined as the moral virtue that express the constant and firm will to give each individual their due, both to God and to neighbour. It is essentially recognising and respecting the rights of others, establishing harmony in human relationships, and promoting fairness and impartial within society. It focusses in giving each person what they are due or deserve. The Church emphasises that justice is not merely individual virtue but also a social one. Justice is essential for forming a community where every person is treated with dignity and respect.

Justice in the Bible – Justice is not merely legalistic concept, but also a moral imperative that calls for the recognition of the permanent dignity of every person, that we are created in the image and likeness of God. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus proclaims, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied” (Mt. 5:6). This beatitude highlights the deep yearning for justice that exists within the human heart. It is a call to seek not only personal righteousness but also the establishment of just relationships within the community. As a social virtue aimed at forming communities where each person is treated according to their innate dignity.

Biblical quotations on justice, emphasising God’s call for fairness, and equality.

Isaiah 1:17(NIV) – Learn to do right, seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. This verse emphasises the importance of actively pursuing justice, defending those who are vulnerable.

Zechariah 7:9-10 (NIV) – This is what the Lord almighty said: administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.

Jeremiah 22:3 (NIV) – This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Charity

Charity is voluntary kindness or generosity. Often aimed at helping those in need. Focuses on helping others out of compassion. It is in the heart of Christian teaching; charity is not merely a call to kindness but a divine commandment that shape the very essence of our faith. Charity is the greatest of all virtues. It is a gift from God that enables believers to love Him above all things and to love neighbours as themselves. This love known as agape, transcends mere affection; it is a radical commitment to the well-being of others, even those who may be difficult to love.

Charity binds all virtues together in perfect harmony and we are able to fulfill the new commandment that Jesus gave us. As Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). This commandment is not just an ideal; it is the foundation of our Christian identity.

Here we recognise that our love for God is inseparable from our love for our neighbour. As Apostle John said, “If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

The aim of charity is not to make us important or popular, it is a transformative force that compels believers to serve others selflessly. It emphasises that true charity translates into concrete acts of service. St. Paul reminds us that without charity, we are nothing (1Cor. 13:1-3).

Charity is the hallmark of a true disciple of Christ. It is a divine commandment that calls for a radical love, one that seeks the good of others, even at great personal cost

The difference between justice and charity

Justice is defined as the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbour. It is all about fairness and the rightful distribution of goods and responsibilities within society. Justice as a social virtue that aims to create communities where every individual is treated according to their inherent dignity. Justice, therefore, serves as a foundational element in the pursuit of common good and the protection of individual rights.

On the other hand, charity transcends justice. It is a theological virtue that enables the individuals to love God above all things and their neighbours as themselves for the love of God. It embodies a self-giving love that seeks the good of others.

What is beyond justice, is charity. We cannot have charity without justice. But we could have justice without charity. Therefore, we are not charitable if we are employing many youths, and not paying them with minimum wage.