For your reflection...

A Jewish story tells of the good fortune of a hardworking farmer.  The Lord appeared and granted him 3 wishes, but with the condition that whatever he received, his neighbor would receive double.  The farmer, scarcely believing his good fortune, asked for one hundred cattle.  Immediately it was granted him and he was overjoyed, until he saw that 200 cattle were given to his neighbor.  So he asked for 200 additional acres.  Again he was delighted at receiving it, until he saw an additional 400 given to his neighbor.

The farmer, unable to celebrate God's goodness, couldn't help the feelings of jealousy.  He couldn't shake the feelings of being slighted that his neighbor was favored more than he.  Finally, he asked for his third wish: to be struck blind in one eye.  And God wept.

How true it is that we often want mercy for ourselves but justice for others.  In spite of a rich Gospel message of abundant grace and forgiveness, we see things only in terms of earthly concepts of "fairness."  Yet the truth remains that only those who are able to celebrate God's mercy to others can experience that mercy themselves. 

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