Justice, Really?

We like to think we want justice, but do we really?  When the same measuring stick we use to evaluate others is applied to us, do we still want justice to be done?  That's when we all recognize our need for grace!

Prayer

Generous God of overflowing grace, we thank you for giving us far more than we deserve!  Remind us that apart from the gifts of your hands we have nothing good, and we would have no hope of growing better.  Your grace sustains us, forgives us, makes right what we have done wrong, and brings peace and good living through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Thank you! Amen.

Matthew 20: 1-16

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"That's not fair!"  How many times have we said that in our lives?  How many times as parents have we heard the words shoot out of our mouths like water out of a pressurized hose,"Who said life is fair?"  Yet, part of the reason we say that with such vigor is because deep down we want life to be fair and just and equitable.  When I became a teen ager, my mother confessed to me that she would buy an equal number of gifts for my sister and I at Christmas because she knew we would be counting them to see that we each had the same amount! 

But do we really want justice to reign supreme?  Do we really want everything to work according to the letter of the law?  That would be fine, I suppose, if we were perfect.  Then we wouldn't worry about the consequences of our bad behavior, and we would have the added benefit of being able to say to others who make mistakes, "Well, you got what you deserved."  But we aren't perfect.  We are flawed, every last one of us.  We just can't seem to get life entirely right.  Think about your day today thus far.  Hurt anyone's feelings yet?  Do anything you shouldn't have?  Think of anything you shouldn't have?  Hmmm...

Enter grace and our generous God to bring us great news that he gives us more than we deserve and even forgives us when we have broken the law and been unjust!  Jesus Christ, born into the world to save sinners like us! 

To be honest, the part of me that wants the world to be just doesn't like Jesus' parable today.  "What do you mean the landowner paid the people who worked only an hour the same as those who worked all day?!?  That's not right!"  And when Jesus says that in the Kingdom "the last will be first and the first will be last" I want to say, "What, that can't be!  We work hard to get first in line!' 

But then, I don't get on track with God everyday until late sometimes either, and in those moments I am grateful that God gives me way more than I deserve.  And after all, it's not like those who worked all day didn't get what they were promised.  God gives more to those who need it because he is generous, good, and merciful while not taking away from the needs of others.  In my bad moments, I am grateful that there is more to God than justice.  There is gift, grace, generosity.  How about you?

Prayer

Gracious Jesus by the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to be as generous and graceful to others who are flawed as you are to us.  Give us your strength and love to forgive as we are forgiven and to give to those in need as you have given to us on the cross.  All this so that the world may know of your goodness and give you praise!  In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen!

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