Scriptures: Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32; Psalm 25:1-8; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32
Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellama, Worship Leader
27 September 2026, 18th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 21A
If I say the word ‘fair’ (f-a-i-r), what comes to mind? This is a word that has a lot of meanings, so I’ll say now I’m not thinking of the weather, or the annual gathering where we celebrate the harvest, eat too much fried food, and risk life and limb on crazy rides. I’m thinking of the word that might apply to the landowner’s sons in today’s parable, or the chief priests who were trying to trip up Jesus; or to the new believers in Phillipi who were struggling to live into their new-found faith, or the weary exiles of Israel in Ezekiel’s story of a people longing for relief from suffering they felt was imposed upon them unjustly.
Merriam-Webster defines fair as ‘marked by impartiality and honesty; free from self-interest, prejudice or favoritism; conforming with rules, equitable. Do any of those match your thoughts about fair or fairness?
‘That’s not fair!!’ We’ve probably all said that ourselves, both as children and adults. The search for fairness and accusations of unfair treatment are all part of the human condition. Take any one of the definitions above, state it as a negative, and you will have a word to describe most of the causes of individual and collective protest and discontent that pervade the world today. The theme of what is fair is certainly well-covered in scripture, beginning in Genesis. The snake persuaded Eve and Adam to do a forbidden act by appealing to their sense of fairness – God has all this knowledge, so why shouldn’t it be shared with you? From the story of Cain and Abel to the fear and envy Herod felt for the anticipated King of Israel, and yes, to the questions the religious leaders asked Jesus in Matthew’s gospel, we can find many examples of fair and unfair treatment.
Listening to today’s gospel reading, did you think the chief priests were being fair to Jesus? All they did was ask him a question; the problem was that one answer could have given them cause to denounce Jesus as a fraud; another could have led them to condemn him as a heretic and a threat to the faith and the empire. Jesus gave them a chance to find common ground and asked a question of the leaders. When they realized they couldn’t safely answer, they said they didn’t know. Rather than denouncing the leaders for trying to lead by virtue of their power, Jesus responded by telling them a parable about the way each of two sons behaved when asked by their father to work for him. As he finished, he asked the chief priests which son had done what he’d been asked; they replied that it was the son who at first had said no but later changed his mind and went to work. Jesus then reminded the chief priests that the people who they least expected to go to the kingdom of God – the ones who the leaders condemned as hopeless sinners – would be the first in the kingdom, because they were the ones who had first believed what they heard from John the Baptist. In his words and in his manner, Jesus became the perfect example of God’s fairness to all.
Fairness can be a difficult concept to pin down, but I think Jesus’s responses give us a perfect picture of what is fair and isn’t. The chief priests focused on themselves and on keeping their own power structure in place so they could use it to keep their positions and influence. Jesus focused on the people he’d been sent to save - the poor and suffering; those on the margins of society, unseen by people with wealth and power. He advocated for the unclean and undesirable; for those labeled as outright sinners – the tax collectors and prostitutes. And yes, he even cared for the chief priests and leaders of the Hebrew faith.
Jesus showed us God’s way of life, God’s fairness, God’s love for all of creation, including those who had yet to see they were beloved children of God. The religious leaders did not realize that leading by power they held - the power of fear, envy and pride - was not the same as leading by God’s power of love, compassion and justice. Some of the leaders would find that knowledge and faith; others would not.
In a world like ours, so many people wake up each day knowing the odds are stacked against them. They feel the burden of struggling under unfair conditions, rising costs, a changing environment, and a sense that they are not given the respect and dignity that is the right of every living being. In this world it is more and more important that we ensure everyone everywhere knows that fairness and justice belong to all, not just a special few. Everyone has the right to live in a safe, peaceful and life-sustaining environment. They have the right to learn and play and rest in secure conditions. Everyone has the right to food, housing, clothing, education, work, and health care that doesn’t break the bank. This is not about those who deserve and those who don’t deserve. This is about living in harmony with God’s fairness that knows no boundaries, that embraces all people without question or hesitation.
Jesus showed us how to share the story of God’s love for us, a love that is so all-encompassing and so generous, it is almost beyond belief. And it is ours to generously share and bring to the world in ways that only we can. We have promised in our baptismal covenant that we will strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being and every living being. We promise we will do this, with God’s help.
Thanks be to God! Amen!