FAIRNESS WINS OUT

Grownups sometimes say that life isn't fair. Kids know all about unfairness already: You don't get the birthday present you wanted; someone was mean to you; you stand in a line to get free ice cream, but they run out before they get to you.

This week's Gospel (Matthew 21:33-43) is about the worst kind of unfairness: people dying. The people renting a farmer's vineyard wanted to keep all the food they grew, so they killed whoever came for the crops -- even the farmer's son.

The best way to feel better about something unfair is to think about other things that ARE fair. Maybe you didn't get the birthday present you wanted most, but you got SOMETHING; someone treated you badly, but you know other people like you.

The people Jesus taught understood that even when things seem unfair, fairness will win in the end. They knew the farmer whose son was killed would kick out the renters who did it, get his crops and probably send them to jail for killing someone, too.

Thinking about what's fair doesn't fix everything. When you feel hurt and sad, Jesus said to talk to God. In the Gospel story, He talked about people who do good going to heaven; in your life, the people who are hurtful will probably end up sad and lonely. And you'll end up happy -- even if you don't get that free ice cream! 

(10-03-02) [[In-content Ad]]