Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalms 96:1-10; Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees and Herodians did not approach Jesus out of concern that Caesar was stealing God's glory and honor. No, they were looking to protect their own wealth and power. But what about us? Are the motives for our interventions in today's conflicts between God and Caesar truly purer than those of our hypocritical ancestors? I have watched the religious freedom battles of the last few years with much amusement. I have particularly enjoyed the histrionics, by both God's and Caesar's defenders, surrounding the so-called contraception mandate. Yes, within a healthcare system designed to allow the few to make a profit from the illness and suffering of the many, who pays for birth control pills is the real threat to God's glory and honor. Yes, the Pharisees and Herodians are well represented even today. But for those willing to hear, our Brother's wisdom still rings true. So let us not get caught up in outrage over minutiae, and focus instead on that which is truly offensive to our Parent.

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 22: 15-21

"Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." So Jesus meant that religion is supposed to stay out of government? Or is it the other way around? How many times will we hear this said over the next year? How many times will the words be twisted by politicians and clerics to justify their personal endorsements? The Kingdom of God is not of this earth: poverty, war, disease, and all manner of suffering will be with us always. They are part of what it means to be human. But that does not mean we should just accept the status quo. What is unjust should be fought, not because we can save the world, but simply because it is what is right and good. We MUST do something to alleviate suffering, even if it is less that what we would like. Failure to do so, whether in the name of tolerance or righteousness, is the true evil.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 22: 15-21

Woe unto you Christians who demand simple answers from God. "Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Clear, straight-forward, yes or no, black and white. And what does our Brother say in reply: "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." You can almost hear them saying, "So is that a yes?" And you can almost see Jesus shaking his head in disgust. He is telling us that life is infinitely more complex than yes or no; that love is gloriously more multi-faceted than black and white. But haven't I talked of the simplicity of love? YES! And once more we greet our beloved paradox: love is easy, yet impossible to define. We know in our heart what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God, whether we are giving love or withholding it. But how do we get our brain to recognize the truth in our heart and soul? How do we live this truth in the world around us, with so many others refusing to recognize it? Now there are some interesting questions: difficult, complex, certainly not yes or no, nor black and white. In part, the answer is that we must remember that the Kingdom of God is more about effort than accomplishment. Our Father knows if we are really trying to repay what belongs to her. All that remains is for us to acknowledge this in ourselves and one another.