Monday, March 26, 2007
Lent Reading Day 30

Laborers in the Vineyard:

Matthew 20:1-15

Jesus tells the parable to open eyes to the mystery and the seemingly unjust justice of God's righteousness and love. This parable about God's timetable versus the way that we as human beings view the timeclock is shocking. It sucks if you've been working all day and then those that seem to you to be slackers just show up at 4:30 and get the same 8 hour day pay as you come 5:00. Yet for those that can't get a job, those like those in the parable, that are overlooked, not hired, not wanted, not considered - to be given the chance and then to be treated with such tremendous grace is ... WOW! Funny how we want God to be fair (isn't that the first complaint voiced when there is a catastrophe, natural disaster or we don't get our way) and yet God's not interested in being fair, but in being just in grace.