Fairness Doctorine

At some point in my adult life I came to a point and realized that life truly isn't fair. I mean truly unfair. The moment that I am feeling the best, that I got the greatest deal, that 75 cent coffee can be more than road tar, and that life couldn't get more complex the other shoe drops. Despair quickly comes over us and we realize that even if we have worked all day in the vineyard, even if we worked our tails off there will be those who come in at the last moment and receive the same reward. This weeks Gospel lesson stinks and truly isn't fair. Jesus isn't fair and I want a recount.

The last being first? What is this crud all about? Wasn't I in line first? The idea of fairness cannot be seen in terms of who has worked harder and for longer, who was in line first, or who heard the invitation and responded after only being around for a short time. God's grace comes to us all - to the life long members and those who are just casual visitors of our church.

The words utter by those who had waited so long to hear an invitation to work are hard for us as a church to hear or digest.

⁶And about five o”clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ St. Matthew 20:6-7

Are there people standing around our church who are waiting to be invited in? How do we face those who haven't been in church in awhile and haven't worked a "full day"? If God's grace belongs to God to give out as He chooses what are we to make of our calling here in Waterville? Tough lesson alright.

To those who have labored long in mission for the church hats off to you. Now the challenge. Let us both go out and seek those who are standing, sitting, searching, and wandering idle in our community.