God’s Not Fair! Spend 5 with Jesus for Wednesday, August 23, 2023

That’s not fair! Probably every one of us have used this phrase at one time or another. C.S. Lewis suggested this basic concept of fairness was good proof of a God. Without God, where would this basic idea of what is fair and what is not come from?

Spend 5 with Jesus is a reflection usually based upon the readings of the day. You can see past Spend 5 with Jesus reflections as well.

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God’s Not Fair!

And yet, when it comes to God, things are different. God does not treat each one of us the same. Rather, God is constantly pouring out to us what we need to become the persons he made us to be, not the broken and sinful person we sometimes are.

This example is given in today’s gospel reading. Jesus tells a parable of workers being paid the same amount despite having been at work for quite different amounts of time. Those who came in at the last minute received the same wage as those who had been working all day.

And, in a certain way, it seems like this would not be fair. Why should those who only worked an hour receive the same salary? And truth be told, it is not fair. That is because God is not fair, he is more than fair. None of us deserve God’s mercy and forgiveness, it is that God freely chooses to give it to us.

This remains true whenever we ask with true contrition and repentance. Whether or not we constantly do so, and have been (mostly) faithful, or whether we are a “deathbed conversion.” For God clearly desires that all people be saved.

Hopefully this is of some comfort to all of us. God is rich in mercy. God longs to forgive the repentant sinner. God wants all of us to answer the universal call to holiness he gives to all of us. So, when you hear the voice of God calling you, say, “Here am I, Lord. I have come to do your will.”