It's Not Fair!

 

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle A

Ez 18:25-28

Phil 2:1-11

Mt 21:28-32

 

It’s not fair! And thank God it’s not.

Today’s readings tie in nicely with last week’s, where we heard the parable of the vineyard workers where the workers who were hired for only a short time received the same wage as those who had worked all day under the sun. The ones who had worked all day felt cheated because the vineyard owner was generous with his money. We hear from the prophet Ezekial today that the Israelites felt they were not being treated fairly by God because there were consequences to their actions. Ezekial sets them straight just as the vineyard owner last week did with the workers who had felt cheated.

It is so good that God does not treat us as we treat each other. It is so good for us that God’s ways are not our ways. What we think is fair may not be what God thinks is fair. We think that getting our fair share means someone else misses out. God gives everyone the same based upon our actions. Our idea of justice is really around punishment. God’s idea of justice is all about mercy. We are all given as many chances as we like to repent and return to God, up until the very moment of our death. And it doesn’t matter what other people do. It’s our choice and we will each have to suffer the consequences of our choices.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes us, just as long as we make the right choice.

Both sons in the vineyard story today had a change of heart, but the only decision that mattered was the one that ultimately conformed to their father’s will. We aren’t given any reasons for their decisions. We don’t know why they ultimately changed their minds. Perhaps the first son who initially agreed to go into the vineyard was attacked and vilified for it. Maybe his friends lured him away to go have some fun instead.  Perhaps the second son was hard-headed and proud, but came to obey his father out of love for him. Or maybe his friends guilted him into it. Their situations didn’t matter, only their decisions did.

We are all called to work in the vineyard of the Lord and be faithful to his commandments. And his commandment is to love one another as he has loved us. To love someone else as God loves them is to humbly serve them.

I spend too much time on social media, I admit it. It seems that every day someone posts a meme or a comment about how important it is to focus on yourself, to rid yourself of people who do not bring out the best in you, or don’t reciprocate your affection or attention. Be strong and be alone. Don’t rely on others. Such an American way of thinking, isn’t it? But that is not how God thinks. St. Paul says today that not only should we be of one mind and heart, we should actually live for one another, to empty ourselves just as Jesus did.

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.

To be truly human is to serve others. Jesus said that he did not come to be served but to serve. God didn’t have to become man. He didn’t have to redeem us. He didn’t have to suffer our ignorance. He didn’t have to suffer and die on that cross. He chose to. He humbled himself and became one of us, because he loved us so. He not only became human, Paul says he took on the form of a slave, the lowest form of human. He became obedient and humbled himself. Are we greater that that? Are we called to anything other than that?

Jesus always turns things on their head. We think that success will come from being self-reliant, smart, and focused on ourselves. Jesus says the greatest person is the one who is the servant of all. We think that those that work harder should get more. Jesus says that everyone is subject to his mercy, no matter what. We think that appearances matter. Jesus says that we will be judged not by our words and our promises but by our actions. Those who do nothing will receive nothing, but even the reluctant workers will get the rewards.

And we are given every chance throughout our lives to make decisions to act, even to the very end of our lives. The workers in last week’s parable thought it was not fair that those who had worked in the vineyard only one hour should get the same pay as those who worked all day. And we may think that it’s not fair that someone who had lived a wicked life but at the end repents will gain the same reward as the person who was faithful their entire life. But what if you were that person, would you care if it were fair, or would you rejoice in your good fortune? We should not consider it a slight to ourselves if God is merciful to others. We should rejoice with them.

I find it a great comfort to know that I can choose God even in the last moment of my life, and he will be merciful. I also know that I can not choose God, and there will be consequences to that. I know that I am called to work every day of my life for others if I am to be a true disciple. And discipleship will bring me happiness and will greatly benefit those around me, and will ultimately lead to eternal life with God. It’s really hard to think of myself last, and I rarely do it well, but I am still called to try, even if I fail.

Think not as human beings do but as God does. We never seem to understand that, do we? It seems to be so difficult for us to live not for ourselves but for others. We don’t understand that the best way to be happy in ourselves is to deny ourselves and live for others. The path to happiness and fulfillment in life is through selflessness. That is the way God thinks. Jesus proved that.

We are not to worry about what others are doing. Worry about yourself. Only an empty cup can be filled. Empty yourself and you will be filled. By humbling himself Jesus was exalted. It will be the same with us.

It’s really not fair. Isn’t that wonderful?