The Ambitious Church Is Concerned for All Sinners

Is God fair? Without much reflection, we may answer too quickly. God is all-powerful. Powerful humans and institutions that are unfair are often self-serving and insatiable. Our God is nothing like that. But that does not mean that our God is fair. Being fair means giving all people what they deserve. That does not describe our God. In today’s readings, God’s unfairness is highlighted. He does not give us what we deserve. In Jesus’ parable in Matthew 20, we see God’s unfairness is generosity in the eyes of some and wrong in the eyes of others. In our Old Testament reading, we hear the Lord’s prophet complain openly about the Lord’s unfairness. He loves the lost. He forgives the wicked. He sends a call to repentance to rebellious people. Why? Because our God is not fair. He is merciful. He is gracious. God is love.