A disturbing reality has emerged after Sydney's protests. Previously compassionate friends, family and colleagues have summoned their inner 'Mr Hydes' to now wish upon thousands of people: death, incarceration without trial, sickness, accidents and economic destruction.

Incensed by what they perceive as a gross act of injustice (protesting during a pandemic and lockdown and thus placing Sydneysiders at increased risk) they have reversed the axiom 'execute justice but love mercy'. They are taking it beyond execution and are relishing justice.

It is particularly disturbing to taste the vitriol pouring forth from the same people who ordinarily profess compassion and mercy (whether by their religion, or their secular big-heartedness). They have abandoned their principles. But only because they have confused the verbs.

We are not called to 'love' justice. And we shouldn't - every society that truly 'loves' justice pursues it with a rigour that casts aside mercy as a weak and inconvenient impediment.

Which is odd, considering modern society's desire to clothe itself in the most virtuous causes possible of compassion, equality, acceptance, and understanding.

Such is its desire that we legislate compassion, we erect statues and buildings to equality, we valorise and enforce cultures of acceptance and mercy, but then we discard actions of justice where it competes with mercy. 

Because 'love trumps hate', 'mercy over justice' or [insert some other platitude here].

So we 'execute' or 'do' mercy, whilst 'loving' justice. It is a disastrous reversal that may feel good for those indulging therein but ultimately delivers a twisted world where justice is diluted for whatever fleeting wave of righteousness fills our fickle human hearts.

Instead, imagine a world where justice was executed. Always. Where corruption is sidelined. Where courts, police and communities never shy away from doing the right thing. Ever.

But those same courts, police and communities love mercy. They prefer mercy. They look for mercy within the justice. Their hearts were filled with compassion as they executed justice.

This would satisfy both of the hungers within our human hearts: for justice to always prevail, but for mercy to always rule.

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