We are people subject to paradoxes. On the one hand there are situations in life when we see things as being positive when they beneficially effect us, but, almost the next second, as being negative when we see that what another receives is more than what have received. Be honest, we have all been there. Those times, from our earliest years when we say bad temperedly, “it’s not fair!”. No one is immune from this throughout our lives.

As an older man entering the priesthood, having served what appears to be the minimum post-ordination apprenticeship of three years as a curate, for right or wrong, Bishop Marcus sent me to this parish. I have observed that when you are a younger priest you have to wait longer for a parish than I did. It’s that sort of thing that can understandably cause ripples in the clergy – "he’s only being doing it for two minutes and he already has a parish!". I suspect that my appointment has been a case of necessity not favouritism. I know that you will have your story too on either side of this particular fence – times when it has not “been fair”.

This Sunday in the gospel parable the behaviour of the owner of the vineyard has nothing to do with necessity but everything to do with generously to the point of irrationality. The less work he gets from his late hirings, compared to those who have been slaving away all day, brings the greater reward. Surely it would have been fairer to pay the late hirings in proportion to the actual hours worked, which is what happens in real life, but no, those who arrive at the end of the day get the same as the others. You can understand why some of the workers complain that their treatment is "not fair".

What is Jesus getting at? The clue is in Sunday's first reading from Isaiah. God tells us that He does he does not think like we do, “my ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts than your thoughts”. This leads to God, also Jesus, doing what looks like outrageous things. In Isaiah God wants the bad person to come to Him, not for punishment and retribution, as we would expect, but so that God will behave with compassion and pardon. He says that He is near to the sinner, not far away; He wishes to save not to punish; He is close to all who call him who are mired in sin and covered in shame.

To many Jesus was outrageous in His life and ministry. He ate and drank with people who were seen as being below contempt, people who in our context, if we are honest, we do not want to associate with, even to acknowledge. More than this He did what only God could do, forgive sins and reconcile people to God and each other. Perhaps His last outrageous act was to forgive the lifelong sinner hanging beside Him on the cross and to give him immediate admittance into heaven.

God in His compassion, love, generosity, and mercy is, by our standards, irrational and needlessly extravagant. He constantly calls us to Him, He embraces his children and rejoices when we return to him. All we need to do is approach Him, particularly in the sacrament of reconciliation, say sorry, be resolved not to sin again, and leave the rest to His grace. God knows that this is a lifelong process. All He wants us to do is try, He knows that, despite our best efforts and resolve, we will need to do this time and again during our lives and He is always there for that.

We see in the vineyard, that though we may think we are a lost cause, this side of eternity, it is never too late to turn to Him. Teaching St Faustina about His Divine Mercy, Jesus told her that at the end of earthly life He will rescue a soul that turns to Him. In John's gospel He says that he loses nothing that is His. The Lord is always close to those who call on Him, who call on Him from their heart. As always in comes down to us about how we respond.

As always, please accept an assurance of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

God bless and keep you.

Fr Chris