“IT’S NOT FAIR”
Matthew 20:1-16 Parable of the Landowner & the Vineyard Workers

SEPTEMBER 18, 2005

Joining Fr. Charlie today......
Bubba: Good natured, loves the beach and surf-boarding, simple-minded and silly.	Rhyme Dog: No, not REM DAWG (Red Sox) but he loves baseball and he is special because he talks---but he only talks in Rhymes.
Tina: Fun loving, very serious about life, studious.	Lizzie: Lizzy is bossy and can be a bully too. She is always thinking of herself and she tries to tempt others to do wrong things.

FR. CHARLIE: Good Morning boys and girls! Welcome back. Did you all have a good summer? All of us from Puppetville have missed sharing our Puppet Parables with you. Today, the Gospel is about………...

Rhyme Dog starts barking in the back…

FR. CHARLIE: Hey, it sounds like my friend, RHYME DOG wants to join me. For those of you who have not met him, you’ll notice that when he talks his words rhyme! Come on out, RHYME DOG!

Rhyme Dog enters

RHYME DOG: Hi Fr. Charlie!
Since school has begun, and the season is Fall.
I wanted to come and say hi to you all!

FR. CHARLIE: Hi, Rhyme Dog, isn’t it wonderful joining our people friends again. I was just starting to tell them that today the Gospel is about ……

Out comes Bubba, Lizzi, & Tina. Bubba and Lizzi are complaining and keep saying back and forth,“It’s not fair!” and Tina just keeps shaking her head.

FR. CHARLIE: My goodness, Bubba, Lizzie, and Tina! What’s not fair? What seems to be the problem?

BUBBA: Oh, hi Fr. Charlie & Rhyme Dog…Well, I was in school today and the teacher asked what does 2+2 equal. I was the FIRST one to raise my hand…can you believe it? (they all shake their heads NO) Did she choose me? Nope, she chose “Know-It All” Nora. I even stood up and waved my arms so she’d see me….but no, she chose Miss “Know-It All”. It’s not fair!

LIZZIE: Yeah, …and today after my mom made chocolate chip cookies she said my brother and I could have one. Well, I’m the OLDEST so I should have gotten the BIGGEST cookie…but did I? NO! It’s not fair!

TINA: Yeah, Fr. Charlie, and if I tell my Mom or Dad that somethin’s not fair, do you know what they ALWAYS say? “Tina….LIFE is not fair!”

FR. CHARLIE: Well, it does seem that life is not fair sometimes. In the gospel today I think the vineyard workers were feeling the same way, wouldn’t you agree Rhyme Dog?

RHYME DOG: Yep!
I think they felt that “It’s not fair!”
But we need to explain that the Landowner really did care.

(He whispers something to Fr. Charlie)

FR. CHARLIE: Good idea, Rhyme Dog! Ok, Bubba, Lizzie, and Tina. We’re going to explain the gospel by having you play a game?

BUBBA: A game? A game here? A GAME IN CHURCH? Is this a trick, Fr. Charlie?

FR. CHARLIE: No, Bubba..it’s no trick.

LIZZIE: So, Fr. Charlie, what do we have to do?

FR. CHARLIE: It’s simple, you only have to answer one question. There will be 2 teams. Lizzie and Tina, I want both of you to work together. Bubba, do you mind doing this yourself?

BUBBA: No, I don’t think so, but….2 against one. You know, that’s not …..

RHYME DOG: Bubba, oh Bubba, please stop right there!
I really don’t want to hear you say, “That’s not fair”.

FR. CHARLIE: Ok, if you answer the question correctly, I’m going to give you a big chocolate chip cookie at the end of the game. Do you want to play?

(They all shake their heads in agreement)

LIZZIE: A chocolate chip cookie! Well, my LITTLE brother isn’t here, so maybe I’ll get the biggest one this time!

FR. CHARLIE: Bubba I just need you to leave the room so you don’t hear their answer. I’ll call you back when they’re done so that you can have your turn. (Bubba exits)
Ok, girls. What’s the Puppet High-5 that I taught you in June? (huddle and whisper)

TINA: The Puppet High-5 is when you raise your hand and say the 5-fingered Puppet Pulpit Phrase, “The Lord is My Shepherd”.

FR. CHARLIE: Excellent! I’m so proud of you. You both will get a cookie at the end of the game. Hmmm, you know what…you answered the question so quickly that I want to give you an extra cookie.

LIZZIE: TWO COOKIES! Wow! (yells to Bubba) Hey, Bubba, you can come out now! (looks at Tina and says) I just know he’s not going to win a cookie!

BUBBA: I’m ready, Fr. Charlie! I’m gonna win a cookie cuz I’m hungry!

FR. CHARLIE: Bubba, what’s the Puppet High-5 that I taught everyone in June?

BUBBA: Hmmmm…The Puppet high-5. I know there’s something about a shepherd…a shepherd has sheep, sheep have lambs (looks at his hand) Mary had a little lamb..that’s 5 words…no, that not it. Shepherd….I got it! THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD!

FR. CHARLIE: You did it, Bubba! Congratulations! It took awhile to remember, but you got the answer, so you win a cookie. But you know what? I’m so proud that you kept thinking and didn’t give up, that I’ve decided to you another cookie!

(Bubba reacts and the girls huddle and whisper)

RHYME DOG: Oh, no, here it comes….cover your ears and beware.
Lizzie’s huffin and puffin, getting’ ready to shout………

LIZZIE: That’s NOT Fair! We answered the question FASTER than Bubba, so we should be the only ones to get 2 cookies.

TINA: Yeah, Fr. Charlie, and I even said, “Puppet Pulpit Phrase” which is hard to say. Bubba didn’t say that and he was sooooooo slow!

FR. CHARLIE: Hmm. So, you don’t think it’s fair that all of you got 2 cookies? (they shake their heads no and Bubba shakes his head yes) Didn’t you agree to play the game after I explained that if you answered the question correctly, you would win a cookie?

TINA & LIZZIE: Yes.

FR. CHARLIE: Well…you answered the question. I told you that you would receive your cookie. You are going to receive exactly what I promised you, aren’t you?

TINA & LIZZIE: Uh huh….but…

RHYME DOG:
Tina and Lizzie, you’re so busy to compare,
that all you think is that Fr. Charlie wasn’t fair!
You got what you agreed to and even one thing more,
but you’re missing the important meaning, because your busy keeping score.

BUBBA: Right on, Rhyme Dog, you tell ‘em! Man & Puppets, best friend! YEP!

FR. CHARLIE: Tina and Lizzie, just like the Landowner in the Gospel, aren’t I allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Are you feeling jealous because I am being generous to Bubba?

LIZZIE: Well, when you put it that way……

TINA: Are you trying to show us that God doesn’t keep score…only people do?

RHYME DOG:
Puppets and people look at others and often do compare.
Thank goodness God decides to see the opposite, and treat us all with HIS care.

FR. CHARLIE: That’s right, Rhyme Dog. He shows us that HIS way is much different than OUR way.

BUBBA: WOW! He makes all his decisions without a committee? I’m sure glad people and puppets are not in charge of who receives what from God…..I never would have gotten 2 cookies!

TINA: I’m sorry we were only thinking of ourselves, Fr. Charlie. Bubba did try hard. We should have been happy for him. Our idea of fairness is not the same as God’s, is it?

FR. CHARLIE: No, it’s not, Tina. Isn’t it a good thing that God has a different way of doing things? We like to set up our rules about fairness. When we do this, we can get jealous because we compare ourselves to others. Then we’re not able to see that God is generous to all of us.

LIZZIE: So, Fr. Charlie, how can we remember all this?

(Rhyme Dog starts barking and then whispers in Fr. Charlie’s ear)

FR. CHARLIE: That’s a great idea! Boys and girls, Rhyme Dog is going to give us the PUPPET PULPIT POEM for you to take bring home!

RHYME DOG:
TIC TAC TOE
Three in a row
God loves ALL of us
From head to toe!

PUPPET PULPIT POEM: (all repeat)
TIC TAC TOE
Three in a row
God loves ALL of us
From head to toe!

Top of page