Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson.

As part of his sermon on Sunday, Pastor Peter shared this graphic Equality vs Equity to show “how Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities, where Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.”

Pastor Peter continued, “Here’s the point I believe is at the heart of our wonderings today: The kingdom of heaven isn’t fair because it’s equal; the kingdom of heaven is fair because it’s equitable.   We don’t know the stories of each individual worker …or why the vineyard owner kept going out and hiring more workers…But we do know that the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who pays as many people as he can a wage that you can live on. And the kingdom of heaven is like a group of people willing to set aside their own jealousies and take seriously the stories of one another.”

Take a moment and appreciate the graphic. Three boxes rearranged made all the difference. A short video clip “Equality, Equity, and Social Justice” (2 min.25 sec.) shows meeting different needs starts to make the world a more equitable place.

Sunday’s text ends “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matt 20:16). It makes me think of Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 2. Each Wednesday in Lent we get to sing Holden Evening Prayer Service as a community, a wonderful tradition I always look forward to. Maybe you do as well. But today I wonder about the lines in The Magnificat,

You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and uplifted the humble of heart.
You have filled the hungry with wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part.

Is it a call for retribution? Or is it a call for equity? A call to us who are rich to share with those in need?  Like Sarah and Abraham, we are blessed to be a blessing.  How do we do that? As a community in God, how do we bless one another?  

I am thankful that I am part of the community of Prince of Peace when I consider the list of the Lenten Offering Recipients: orphaned children in Tanzania, preschool children here on the east side of St. Paul  with the synod with LSS, our own youth group’s summer plans for learning and services; food and shelter through Holy Hammers, Settled, MN Food Share; and even more through Arrive Ministries for Refugee Resettlement and the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.  We pass the blessings on. And give others a chance to do the same.

My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, and my spirit rejoices in you.
You have looked with love on your servant here and blessed me all my life through.
Great and mighty are you, O Holy One, strong is your kindness evermore.
How you favor the weak and lowly one, humbling the proud of heart!

You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and uplifted the humble of heart.
You have filled the hungry with wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part.
Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One, strong is your justice, strong your love,
As you promised to Sarah and Abraham, kindness forevermore.

My soul proclaims your greatness O God, and my spirit rejoices in you.
You have looked with love on your servant here, and blessed me all my life through.
May God, Creator, bless us and keep us,
may Christ be ever light for our lives,
may the Spirit of Love be our guide and path, for all of our days. 
Amen.