We have trouble with the concept of infinity. Nowhere is our problem with infinity more apparent than in our concept of fairness. We see a finite number of things, and we want our share. Take a plate of five cookies and three people in the room, and we immediately begin to try to figure out “what’s fair” and we immediately decide that any result that ends up with me getting less than the other people in the room is “not fair.”
I watch my grandchildren and wonder where did they learn the words — “not fair.” Even the possibility of more cookies in the oven doesn’t totally satisfy the concept of fairness. Children come up with there own version of fairness. The oldest thinks they deserve more than the youngest, the biggest thinks he is entitled to more than the smallest, the one who did her chores is entitled to more, etc.
Only God, the inventor of infinity, doesn’t get hung up on fairness or deservedness. In his eyes none of us is worthy, but we still receive as much love as we can ever absorb, and then some. God does not get bogged down because he knows that love is infinite and unconditional. No one receives more or less love in his world, and at the same time no one is treated unfair.
During the meditative part of our Lenten journey we are called to examine our own capacity to love. Why do we put limits on our bounty, why do we demand that our neighbor earn his/her share of our love. If we are to get closer to the heart of God, we must begin to think as he does — our love should have no limits, no boundaries, and no prerequisites such as fairness.
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