When they measured it with an omer,
those who gathered much had nothing over,
and those who gathered little had no shortage;
they gathered as much as each of them needed.
—Exodus 16.18
When those hired about five o’clock came,
each of them received a denarius.
—Matthew 20.9
We think justice is that people get what they deserve.
But there’s no such thing.
There’s no accounting, no scale
by which “deserving” can be calculated.
Justice is that everybody has what they need,
no more, no less—regardless of one’s evil or virtue—
no payback, no wages, no quid pro quo.
There is only grace. Freely given. Infinite.
Which is harder:
to receive unmerited grace, and be grateful,
or to witness others receiving unmerited grace,
and be grateful?
To begin the work of repentance
in our judging of others,
our resentments of their undeserved fortune,
to repent of the arrogance of our entitlement,
we best begin by marveling at our own manna,
its grace, unearned, undeserved yet constant,
and trade in the smug, shallow satisfaction of a good deal
for the miracle of a pure gift.
Only then, with humility born of awe,
can we look upon our over-blessed neighbor,
even the least deserving one,
and rejoice in their manna.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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