Empty the trash. I always do it. Help me with the dishes. It's not my turn. You're not going to that movie. Everyone is going. It's just not fair. Fairness! Is that one of our most human values. Perhaps one which we cherish for ourselves but are not as generous in giving to other.

Fairness is also a difficult concept to comprehend. Ezekiel in the first reading, Jesus in the gospel, and to some extent Paul in the second reading try to give us a clearer perspective on fairness.

When we read in Ezekiel about the virtuous turning bad and being punished and the wicked making a death bed conversion and being rewarded; we tend to think. That's not fair; We sit in judgment. Aren't we really thinking: I wish I could have all the pleasures of sin, experience a death bed conversion and receive all the rewards of heaven.. Such thoughts however common, reveal an inadequate and underdeveloped understanding of God's nature which is mercy and love.

In today's gospel Jesus continues the parable of laboring in the vineyard-no longer as employees but as sons/daughters--His children. The gospel today focuses not on the response of strangers as in previous weeks--nor on recent converts but on long established Christians like ourselves ...All of us at one time or another can identify with either of these two sons.

Are there times when we say yes with enthusiasm that fizzles and ends half-heartedly or not at all like root beer gone flat. If we are to follow through on our resolutions then we must follow the example of Jesus who sustained his response through prayer-sometimes all night long.

Prayer enables us to focus not only on what to do but to be Acceptance of God's will implies acceptance of who I am--a child of Abba--one who shares in the Father's Divine "I Am-ness."

But how often we loose that focus, shifting from self-identity to self-ambition. From who I am to who I wish I were or what I had. The gospel comes in direct confrontation with Madison Ave. From an advertising perspective the gospels loose badly.

Listen to the words of St. Paul 'in his teaching on the meaning of suffering. The teaching is not just an arbitrary choice. It is the example of Jesus Himself who endured suffering not merely as a temporary road to glory; or as one who condescended from his glory to become something less in suffering. In the model of Jesus we find the true meaning that suffering and glory are a natural mix that defines humanity and discipleship.

Paul begs the community at Philippi to reflect like mirrors the image of God. Clearly he would not ask this if it were not possible. This potential for becoming more and more Christ-like and more Christian is realized through deep love and mercy even for those who make us victims of suffering.

Though no one is ever punished for anyone else's sins, the entire humanity and each member suffers and is in some way diminished by the sins of others; and at the same time each of us benefits from the good done by others.

Let's go back to the gospel, to the example of the second son who had it all, except himself until he opened his heart to grace, the power of relating to God, the power of knowing God. It is exciting to know God who will never leave us wanting.

He will work out the details, the appointments, the opportunities, but we must choose. Unlike the pieces of a puzzle which are made of cardboard and go where they are placed; we have been gifted with free will. We have response/ability which means we must choose our response.

We can say no and forget about it. We can say no and later repent and do it with God's grace. We can say yea and fizzle. We can say yes, I'll give it may best, and sustained by grace accomplish the Father's will.