welcome to multiple strands

a place to converse, virtually, on a variety of topics, bringing together multiple strands to encourage, question, challenge, ponder, and edify. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Eccl. 4.12)

Thursday, January 8, 2015

divine justice in judgement (Dante)

And so the vision granted to your world
can no more fathom Justice Everlasting
then eyes can see down to the ocean floor:

while you can see the bottom near the shore,
you cannot out at sea; but nonetheless
it is still there concealed my depth too deep.
...
for you would say: consider that man born 
along the Indus where you will not find
a soul who speaks or reads or rights of Christ,

and all of his desires, all of his acts
are good, as far as human reason sees;
nor ever having sinned in deed or word,

He dies unbaptized, dies without faith.
What is this justice that condemns his soul? 
What is his guilt if he does not believe?
...
O earthbound creatures! O thick-headed men!
The Primal Will, which of Itself is goodn
never moves from Itself, the Good Supreme.

Only that which accords with it is just.
It is not drawn to any finite good,
but sending forth its rays creates that good.
...
Circling, it sang,  then spoke: even as my notes
are too high for your mind comprehend
so is Eternal Judgment for mankind.

Dante, The Divine Comedy, Paradiso, Canto XI, 58-99.

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