October 22, 2017

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5; Matthew 22: 15-21 How much time do I spend with God? Do I give Him my best time? Do I give Him only my left-over time? Do I give Him only time on the weekends when it doesn’t interfere with my family, social, business, recreational needs? Does the time that I spend with God have anything to do with forming a deeper relationship of love, gratitude and caring? Do I view God as one I ‘have to make a report to’ like at work, or home or business? If I tend to operate in this direction do I go for a ‘passing grade’ and then feel I am free to do anything that I want since my ‘job’ is done? Do I feel that if I don’t finish this ‘Godjob’ I will definitely be in trouble? Does God view me as a person He is deeply in love with or as a person that needs to be a rule-first person? Do my actions and words show how deeply I am in love with God? Do I feel that God has favorites and plays favorites? Stephen Decatur in an after dinner toast of 1816-1820 said, “Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!” Is this how God views our country? Is it how I view the country? Where is God leading us? Is He leading us? Today’s scriptural readings give a direction for us to go deeper into an understanding of God’s plan for His creation. In the verse before today’s passage, Isaiah is speaking of the wonderful power of God. “Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, who formed you from the womb: I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens; when I spread out the earth, who was with me?” But then Isaiah tells how God used a foreign king for Israel’s benefit. It is so very interesting and must have shocked the Jewish people when Isaiah started today’s verse, Thus says the Lord to His anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him and making kings run in his service….” Now Cyrus founded the Persian Empire after Babylon surrendered to him in 539 BC. Here Isaiah calls him ‘God’s anointed’ which is the term originally only referred to those in Israel. In Hebrew this word is mashies…in Greek it is christos and it is the root of the work ‘messiah’. So Cyrus is anointed not only so that he could serve as a redeemer of Israel but also freeing them from their captivity. It also means that those non Israelites are also bound by the God of Israel. Cyrus was a brilliant ruler because of his forward thinking policies toward other countries. He also allowed the exiles of Israel to return to their homeland. Isaiah shares how Cyrus’ victories are possible only because God holds “his right hand” and “God has called you by your name.” God calls Cyrus, ‘His servant’ a title which is reserved for a select few in the Bible. Paul also in his writing refers to Nero as the servant and minister of God. God’s plans includes everyone. God rules over all. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is the earliest written document in the New Testament. Paul probably wrote it during his time at Corinth in 50 AD. He had founded the church at Thessalonica a little before and had to leave quickly so he wants to see how things are going. Timothy comes back with a glowing report sharing the selfless love of the people in sharing the Good News, the Gospel of Love. Paul guarantees them that they can rely on the Holy Spirit to continue to give them all the strength, ability and grace they need to live the love of God. Some background for the Gospel: the Pharisees snd Herodians never agreed. Jesus always challenged them. The Pharisees taught that the people had to live by a strict, complete adherence to the Jewish Law. The Herodians were much more political and wanted to keep peace with Rome so that they could continue to live a comfortable life of power and wealth. They had no problems ignoring the commandments, laws and rules the Pharisees felt were so important. Today the Pharisees are out to trick Jesus in front of the people about paying taxes. So many feel that this encounter has to do with how we are to live in the political climate we find ourselves…it is not. The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus in an uncomfortable position. If Jesus says, ‘Pay the tax’ they can easily accuse Him of siding with the hated Romans. If Jesus says, ‘Don’t pay the tax’ they can even bring Him to court for disobeying civil authority. I find the next part interesting; Jesus asks for a coin. Now why would the Pharisee who hated Rome just happen to have a Roman coin, but he does and Jesus points out Caesar’s image and says, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God..” Jesus is pointing out how petty the Pharisees are because they are so enwrapped in their own games that they miss the deep mysteries of God right under their noses. We do the same…we argue about the principle of things when the real issue is a few little things. So who cares where I sit at the banquet table…head table…is my screaming at the almost invisible dent in my car an issue of life and death. Jesus is telling the Pharisees…Jesus is telling us. The Kingdom of God is at hand…AND…the Pharisees never noticed…Do I notice that I am called every minute to live the Kingdom of God’s love? Jesus calls us to pay to God what belongs to God? This means that what is in question is What is God’s? The answer is unavoidable and inescapable: EVERYTHING! We have received everything from God. We have received the gift of life, the gift of our faith, the gift of family and friends. We have received the gift of our five senses in addition the unique gifts of thought, speech, love and laughter which are totally unique in each person. What astounding, amazing gifts! Am I grateful? Do I realize that I have been given these gifts for the advancing each moment of the day for the Kingdom of God’s love? If I really want to thank God and be grateful, I must put God first in my life. Do I? Or does God get the leftovers? This reflection must not be put off…I must take time and examine myself as belonging to God, living for God, loving as God needs me to be and always being grateful. So I reflect on: • Does it make a difference in my life that I have been chosen by God with a continuous special mission of love? • What is my duty, as being loved by God, when the law denies the bare essentials to the disadvantaged? Is this the same as my duty as a citizen? • So I get ‘down and dirty’: What priorities do I put before God? How does my life reflect my priorities? • Do I really believe God is all powerful? more powerful than any of my fears? • The first commandment makes it very clear: I am not God…how am I living this? Sacred Space 2017 states: “To be a good citizen and to serve God are not in contradiction, since God works through all human systems and institutions to build the final community of love. God needs me to help build good relationships wherever I find myself. Some people have tried to use this reply of Jesus to justify revolution against an oppressive regime others to bolster their conservatism. Lord, you hungered for justice, but You sought change by peaceful means. Help me do the same.”