The progression from the First to the Second Reading is from justice to peace. The servant prophesied by Isaiah
“shall bring forth justice to the nations and establishes
justice on the earth: I, the Lord, have called you for the victory
of justice.”
The response announces that “The Lord will bless his people
with peace,” and a reading from Acts follows which
characterizes God’s message to the people of Israel as
“the good news of peace.” The Gospel includes the image of the dove, a symbol of peace.
Catholic social morality has always linked peace with justice.
Perhaps this would be a good time to remind ourselves of the
connection between good order in national and international
relations (peace) and good order in all human relations
(justice).
As “children born of water and the Spirit, we share in the
sonship of Christ” and in a calling to “follow in his
path of service” by promoting the peace that flows from
justice.
Vatican II, Constitution on the Church in the
Modern World (1965) 78
If you want peace, work for justice.
Pope Paul VI, 1972 World Day of Peace Message
Commitment to justice must be closely linked with commitment to peace in the modern world.
Pope John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (1981) 2
Justice is always the foundation of peace.
U.S. Bishops, The Challenge of Peace (1983) 60
