Justice of God

Thought for parish pew slip
Sunday 21st September 2008 - Trinity 18 – Proper 20 – Year A

Readings: Jonah 3: 10 - 4:11 Philippians 1: 21-30 Matthew 20: 1-16


Our scripture readings today are about people getting what is rightfully due to them. This is the justice of God.
Our Old Testament lesson tells us about Jonah, who had been sent to tell the people of Nineveh of a great disaster that God was planning to inflict on their city. The people of Nineveh repented of their wickedness and changed their ways. God was pleased and decided not to destroy the city. Unfortunately Jonah saw this as a major loss of face and was angry with God. God taught Jonah a lesson to make him understand how much God cares for Nineveh and its people.
In his letter to the Philippians, St Paul ascribes great value to the privilege of suffering for Christ. This has been Paul’s path and it has led him to an extraordinary confidence in God, such that he is equally happy to carry on living or to die and be with Christ.
In our gospel reading some workers who have received a just wage feel they have been treated unfairly compared to other workers who have received a generous wage. The rewards of the kingdom of heaven might be just or generous, but it is not for us to make comparisons. Converting the good things others have is always a problem (e.g. Exodus 20: 17).