September 24. Sunday 25A.  One Sunday they visited a suburban parish in a country town that traditionally had been white but like many suburban churches was becoming much more mixed. Fr George used the opportunity of the gospel story to pose a question around fairness. “Do you think God is always fair?’ he began. “If you think about sickness, accidents, beauty, wealth and all kinds of positive and negative qualities and experiences, and you believe that everything comes from God like a puppet-master pulling strings then surely God is not fair.  If you believe that God allows good and bad to happen to people but uses this to work for our salvation you could say God is fair.  But what does that tell us about the story of the farmer who hired some labourers to work.  He hired some early, again later and just a short while before the end of the day.  In the end he paid them all the same. Is that fair?  Now think of South Africa, its history and its present. Was God fair and is God fair today?” 

Reflect, share, act. Scripture: “Friend I am doing you no wrong.  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?   Do you begrudge my generosity?  So the last will be first and the first last.  Read Matt 20:1-16 for the full parable.  Pope Francis. Work should be the setting for rich personal growth, where many aspects of life enter into play; creativity, planning for the future, developing our talents, living out our values, relating to others, giving glory to God. LS 127.   Eco-tip and prayer:  Reflect on your own work ethic and relationships. Is there a need for change?  Pray the Glory be to the Father….