A Cycle – 29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 23

Mt. 22:15-21

In a few weeks we will be voting on some particularly critical issues that have galvanized our State.  It is interesting how the timing of this Sunday’s readings has us focusing on a political issue instead of moral laws.  The Jews for a very long time longed to be freed from the rule of the Roman Empire. They dreamed of the days when King David overthrew the rule of the Philistines and established a kingdom. 

They longed for a promised Messiah to set them free and did not believe this Jesus from Nazareth could be the one. His message gave them no hope of them becoming free because they misunderstood God’s promise of freedom.  If Jesus was not the promised messiah, then they had to get rid of Him.  The religious leaders were conspiring to trap Him into blasphemy and finally get rid of this imposter.  His impact on those who believed He was the promised one of God was disrupting their comfortable existence.

So, they come up with a scheme to trap him with a clever ploy about paying the census tax.  If His answer was no, they could use his response to instigate a rebellion. This would cause and the Romans could put him on trial and crucify Him.   If his response was yes, they could claim he was collaborating with the Romans and the Jews could put him to death.  Either way they would have Him trapped and were gleefully proud of their clever scheme.    

Jesus quickly realized their clever scheming and turn the tables on them with a simple question that unmasks their true intent.  Jesus has a way of doing that if you pay attention to the scriptures. One question that gets to the heart of what we are trying to hide.   This time the question was “whose inscription is on this coin?”

For those willing to stone a woman caught in adultery the question was “…whomever is without sin – cast the first stone.  To the woman at the well the question was “if you drink the water that I will give you will have eternal life.”  But in this question about the tax Jesus is pointing out to them and us how our lives are wrapped up, intertwined with governments, societal norma and long held expectations from others.   He is pointing out how we conform our lives to coexist within society. 

Yes governments, laws, taxes, police, and what we expect from them are all a part of everyday life. We depend on this system of governance to work for all of us. We take it for granted our lives will be kept safe, the innocent will be protected, our children will be educated, our roads will be maintained, our trash picked up and yes, we are free to worship.

Jesus is showing more than the Pharisees and the Herodians their hypocrisy.  He is speaking to us.  We cannot have it both ways. If we want the benefits of society, then we must support society by involvement and participation in the formation of what rules us.  We participate by informed conscientious voting.  But we must also realize there is a greater demand on us as believers in Christ Jesus. We must render to God what is God’s and to Caesar what is Caesar’s.  We cannot hide behind laws, rituals and deny Christ because His words to us are uncomfortable.

God has from the beginning of creation planned for us to be in an intimate, physical, spiritual, and emotional relationship with Him.  God has repeatedly told us we are individually created and gifted with something to build up the body of Christ.  Have we become Pharisees and are blinded to the simple reality of what God desires most is our hearts.  Did you note those testing Jesus that day, never asked Jesus a follow up question after He said, “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is Gods.”  It is clear the coin is to pay the census tax and any other taxes the Roman’s applied.  But why did they not ask Jesus what is God’s.  What is God’s desire for them as His own chosen people. Do any of us ask God that question when we seek Him in prayer?    

Is that a question we all are avoiding because we do not want to hear the answer?  We ae too comfortable with how we comply with the laws of God and man.  What is it God desires?  Us, you, and I and not just showing up here on Sunday but God wants our hearts.  He wants our commitment to follow Him and to be willing to speak the truth about the lies that society feeds us.  There is only one way to be fulfilled in life and that is by living the life God planned for you to live.  Seek to discover the heart of God and you will discover the meaning and purpose of your life.     This gospel should make us ask the very question that is never asked by the Pharisees or those who measure their holiness by compliance to laws, rituals, and sacrifices.   What is you want of me God? How am I called to respond to your death on the cross?  Pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit to come upon you and guide you to a deeper knowledge of Christ and to change your heart to one that longs for God.