I’m going to say this phrase twice for effect. ‘Life is unfair and for most of us, most of the time thank God it is.’

Let me say that again. ‘Life is unfair. And for most of us, most of the time thank God it is.’

Think about your own position in life and what you’ve been blessed with. In so many ways life has certainly been unfair to me and I think to many people that I know. If we start comparing ourselves with others and see what people have to deal with in significant ways in their life. I know that life is unfair.

Life has been good and generous to me in many ways. And the response to that always is one of a response of gratitude.

If we compare ourselves with others there will be always more who have more and those who have less. They say, scripture scholars, that this is the most hated -I’ll use that word- the most hated of all the parables of Jesus. Because when people hear it they hear what they think is the injustice of the parable.

Someone goes working, starting at 7 o’clock in the morning and someone comes at 5 and everybody gets paid the same. But it’s about context.

Jesus is talking about the kingdom of God, about his kingdom. God is in charge. God invites those in. God determines what are the terms, what it means to part and be a part of the kingdom. I think we’ve got to keep that in mind and in context.

God wants all of his children -and you and me, all of us to participate in the work of the kingdom. And people come to it at different times in their life. Some with more energy and enthusiasm, some with less. But it’s God’s determination- God’s love. To be equally generous to all because indeed we all are the children of God.

It’s a tough gospel to hear for some, for all of us I guess at times. And yet, that opening statement is something that stays close to me and in my memory and hopefully to you.

It is true, life is unfair. And the positive side to that is for most of us, most of the time thank God it is.