“It’s not fair!”  So often, it is children who shout that, when they feel hard done by.  But we adults do it too – when someone jumps in front of you in a queue, or a person is singled out for praise when they have not done as much work as others, or even, when we hear of people claiming benefits that seem to put us at a disadvantage.  Yes, for many years, there was a distinction between the “deserving poor” (we like them – we want to help them) and the “undeserving poor” (scroungers, who make light of the rules, only looking out for themselves).  Perhaps adults need to hear what is said to children as well: “yes, life is unfair.  Get over it!”  Harsh, but true.

And yet, there are two ways of life being unfair (so the readings suggest this week).  In Matthew’s Gospel, some workers seem to receive a full day’s reward for only a little work, on an equal basis to those who have borne the heat and burden of the day.  But in Isaiah, we hear the surprising, generous, gracious words from a market stallholder (God): ‘come and get it!  Come for bread and wine, even though you have no money!’  This is not fair (God says) – no, but it is my free gift.  Perhaps we become people who are less angry with others if we increasingly recognize how much we receive freely – friendship, kindness, the beauty of creation, and life itself.  All given freely, for us to enjoy … and then perhaps, for us to become people who will continue that tradition of gracious generosity, in some way or other.

To give a live up-to-date example: most of us will know and love the RNLI.  As well as being the acronym for Lifeboats, it can also stand for the people who serve in the lifeboats: Relentless Noble Life-saving Individuals.  One of their mottos is: “They don’t ask who you voted for.  They don’t ask where you live.  They don’t ask whether you think you deserve their help.  They come.”  Note the use of that word “come” – exactly the word that appears repeatedly in Isaiah 55 (this morning’s Old Testament reading).  God says to us “Come”!  And then asks us to ‘go and do likewise’.

Rev’d Bob

Services on Sunday 20^th September 2026

10:00am -Sung Holy Communion – St Marys

10:30am – Holy Communion and Hymns – All Saints

The Week Ahead

Mon 21st Sep

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tues 22nd Sep

10:30am – Music for Toddlers, St Mary’s

Wed 23rd Sep

9:00 am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thu 24th Sep

10:00 am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Sat 26th Sep

12:00pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 27th Sep

8:00 am – Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00 am – Harvest Celebration with Communion, St Marys

10:30 am – Café Church, All Saints