In Wrath Remember Mercy
When the Lord informed Habakkuk that He was about to
judge Israel, Habakkuk said that he was afraid. He stood in awe and reverence
at God’s wisdom and will. Then he pleaded, “In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk
3:2). He wanted God’s just judgment to be tempered with tender mercies. It is
possible for judgment to be all wrath with no mercy whatsoever. It is also
possible to be so merciful there is no just punishment. The Lord, Who is both
just and merciful, is able to execute a just judgment and, at the same time, be
merciful during the punishment.
What happened to Joe and Teresa Giudice is an illustration. You may never have heard of Joe, but you probably know Teresa. Teresa is an Italian-American, who has written three New York Times best-selling cookbooks and was featured on Donald Trump’s The Celebrity Apprentice. She is best known for her extravagant lifestyle and for starring in The Real Housewives of New Jersey. In connection with a bankruptcy filing, Joe and Teresa were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications, and bankruptcy fraud in a 39-count indictment. Joe was also charged with failure to file tax returns for tax years 2004 through 2008.
Joe and Teresa struck a deal with federal prosecutors. In court, they admitted hiding assets from bankruptcy creditors and submitting false loan applications to obtain about $5 million in loans. Joe pleaded guilty to failing to pay taxes. On October 2, 2014, Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison; Joe received a 41-month sentence, followed by potential deportation to Italy. They must also pay $414,000 in restitution.
On January 5, 2015, Teresa began her sentence at Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, a minimum-security prison camp. After Teresa completes her 15 month sentence, Joe will begin serving his 41 months prison. Then he will face the possibility of deportation, because he is a native Italian, not a U.S. citizen. This story is not over. There is much more to it, including a possible divorce, but there is one aspect to this story that is an illustration of mercy in the midst of justice.
Joe and Teresa were allowed to serve their prison terms one after the other because they have four daughters. A federal judge staggered the sentences in deference to the couple’s daughters: Gia, 13, Gabriela, 10, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 5. Thus, one parent will be able to stay with the children while the other one is in prison.
Teresa has said that she wouldn't make the same mistakes again. “Life’s a learning lesson,” she said. “I feel every day you grow and learn something new.”
We need to learn that in wrath we should also remember mercy. It prevents justice from becoming unjust by having too much punishment. It keeps justice just. Parents need to practice this principle when punishing their children, as should judges who determine the proper punishment for criminals.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 1/9/2015
What happened to Joe and Teresa Giudice is an illustration. You may never have heard of Joe, but you probably know Teresa. Teresa is an Italian-American, who has written three New York Times best-selling cookbooks and was featured on Donald Trump’s The Celebrity Apprentice. She is best known for her extravagant lifestyle and for starring in The Real Housewives of New Jersey. In connection with a bankruptcy filing, Joe and Teresa were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications, and bankruptcy fraud in a 39-count indictment. Joe was also charged with failure to file tax returns for tax years 2004 through 2008.
Joe and Teresa struck a deal with federal prosecutors. In court, they admitted hiding assets from bankruptcy creditors and submitting false loan applications to obtain about $5 million in loans. Joe pleaded guilty to failing to pay taxes. On October 2, 2014, Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison; Joe received a 41-month sentence, followed by potential deportation to Italy. They must also pay $414,000 in restitution.
On January 5, 2015, Teresa began her sentence at Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, a minimum-security prison camp. After Teresa completes her 15 month sentence, Joe will begin serving his 41 months prison. Then he will face the possibility of deportation, because he is a native Italian, not a U.S. citizen. This story is not over. There is much more to it, including a possible divorce, but there is one aspect to this story that is an illustration of mercy in the midst of justice.
Joe and Teresa were allowed to serve their prison terms one after the other because they have four daughters. A federal judge staggered the sentences in deference to the couple’s daughters: Gia, 13, Gabriela, 10, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 5. Thus, one parent will be able to stay with the children while the other one is in prison.
Teresa has said that she wouldn't make the same mistakes again. “Life’s a learning lesson,” she said. “I feel every day you grow and learn something new.”
We need to learn that in wrath we should also remember mercy. It prevents justice from becoming unjust by having too much punishment. It keeps justice just. Parents need to practice this principle when punishing their children, as should judges who determine the proper punishment for criminals.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 1/9/2015