God Has No Favourites

GOD HAS NO FAVOURITES

(Preached about August 2006)

(Matthew 20.1-16)

Ever since my wife, Mary, was diagnosed as having terminal cancer, we have been completely overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from so many people, both here in England and overseas.

The cards, letters and flowers are visible reminders of the inward thoughts and prayers of so many which

have enveloped us in recent weeks and which have been a source of strength and encouragement.

Several letters have made reference to the apparent unfairness, whereby a person who has given so much

nursing care throughout her life to others should now be the recipient of other people's care.

I am sure that it is not intentional but such an approach seems to imply not only that those in the caring

profession should be exempt from personal suffering, but also that there are others who are more deserving

of suffering.

I must admit that such sentiment certainly appeals to my heart at this time of personal anguish. However, my head tells me that for God to show special favours would be unfair. In short, there can be no favourites in the kingdom of God.

This, in a nutshell, is the message of the passage in St Matthew's Gospel about the labourers in the vineyard.

On the surface, the parable appears to be unfair. Surely those labourers who were hired first thing in the morning, and who had borne the burden and heat of the day should have received more recognition than those hired later in the cool of the day! After all, it seems only fair.

However, such an approach misses the whole point of the story. The focus of attention is not upon the wage differential but upon the freedom of God to give as he chooses. 'Surely, I am free to do what I like with my own money. Why be jealous because I am kind'.

In other words, we cannot earn the love and favour of God by the practice of good works. God's love is free and undeserved. It is independent of our efforts. We cannot 'buy' God off or influence him. We cannot lay claim upon his love and expect, let alone demand, preferential treatment.

If you do not believe me, you have only to look at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God.

Jesus was constantly criticised for spending his time with tax collectors and sinners. He admitted them into his fellowship. He ate and drank with them. Above all he invited them into the kingdom because the God who had sent him was generous with his forgiveness and mercy.

Needless to say, some thought this was unfair, and that is why he told this particular parable. The Pharisees in particular reckoned that they should have been shown special favours. After all, they had separated themselves off from others in order to earn God's favour by keeping all religious rules and regulations. That incidentally is the meaning of the word Pharisee, namely 'separate from'.

The Pharisees may well be the first to have laboured in the vineyard and borne the burden in the heat of the

day but they should not expect to be treated any differently from the tax collectors and sinners who join the work force in the cool of the day. In short, God has no favourites.

Now of course I would like to think that Mary could be spared the future pain and suffering because of the comfort she has given to others in their sickness.

Of course I would like to think that I could be spared the inherent emotional pain and anguish because of the comfort I have sought to bring to others throughout my priestly ministry. Yes, I would like to think we could both be shown special consideration.

But is that fair?

Is it right that we should be shown special favours by God and thereby avoid the suffering that others bear in similar situations?

Of course not. Once we start going down that road we cease to believe in a just God and make him into a God who can be manipulated by us like a puppet on a string. God ceases to be independent of his creation and becomes yet another person whose influence can be bought or earned

Thank goodness we do not believe in such a God because he would cease to be all powerful and there would therefore be no value in offering prayer to such a person.

It is precisely because none of us are deserving of his love in our own right that we are able to turn to him in prayer knowing that he will answer us according to our needs and not according to our merits.

This is indeed good news. This is indeed fair news. And this gives both Mary and me comfort and strength.