29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 22:15-21

 

Politics.

We cringe even at the mention of that word because, at the very least the discussion of politics is awkward.  Worse, it’s divisive.  And at the very worst, it leads to hatred and violence.

Even Jesus was subjected to the awkwardness, the divisiveness and, of course, the hatred and violence of the politics of his time.

In today’s gospel we see how the Pharisees openly and deliberately trying to trap Jesus in making a “no-win” political statement.  One can imagine this scene being played out in today’s world:  There’s Jesus being interviewed on TV by one of the so-called hard-hitting reporters trying to get a “gotcha” moment to drive up ratings.

In today’s gospel we see Jesus giving the most perfect answer, disarming the Pharisees, essentially rising above the divisive issue of whether paying taxes was siding with the oppressor, or refusal to pay was supporting his people.  Essentially, what matters most, he says,  is that we give to God what is God’s. 

Did the people of his time, however, view his answer the same way we do?  We understand and believe in Jesus’ message of putting God first.  Did those Pharisees see it that way?  Perhaps they over-simplified his answer and thought that if he was saying we should give to Caesar what is Caesar's then he is implicitly saying that the taxes should be paid.  Would the Pharisees have, at least, “spun” his answer that way, to show that Jesus was not a true champion of” “justice” and that he was not supporting the oppressed poor?

Let’s go back to the image above of Jesus being interviewed by some pundit on TV.  Couldn’t you imagine all of the social media comments the next day?  The outrage would be rampant; the divisiveness heightened. 

Would people even hear – much less understand – what Jesus meant when he said we should give to God what belongs to God.

That leads to the real question:  What belongs God?

How do you answer that?

Let’s turn to our own times for a second.  Right now the world is dealing with a dilemma that sounds and feels just like the dilemma that the Pharisees imposed on Jesus.

On October 7^th the world witnessed the sudden and horrific attack by Hamas against the Israeli people.  Since then we have also witnessed Israel’s response which includes not only a military response, but the blocking of food, fuel and water to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

And every day the dilemma is presented to each and every person:  “Who is right?”  “Who is wrong?”  “Who is justified?”  "Who is the oppressed, and who is the oppressor?" Say one thing and you’re accused of supporting terrorists.  Say another and you're accused of being antisemitic.   Try to take the middle ground and you find your words distorted and used against you – and attacked by both sides.  Urge peace and, well ...  

.... there was a story reported this week that a landlord in Illinois, so outraged at the Hamas attack in Israel, that he confronted his Palestinian-American tenant, a 32 year old mother of a six year old boy. She responded, "Let's pray for peace."  He stabbed her and her six year old son, wounding her, and killing him.

A mother said "Let's pray for peace" and her son was killed.

A Mother said, "Let's pray for peace."  And her Son was killed.

They paid the ultimate price.  For peace.  For what belongs to God.

"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."  

Do I have it in me, to give to God what belongs to God?  Life, peace, joy, kindness and charity, forgiveness and mercy, healing and hope, strength, compassion, guidance, comfort…  Do I have it in me to speak up for these things, even if it means paying the ultimate price.  Jesus gave to God what belongs to God – his entire life.

The world will always present us with dilemmas of ALL sorts.  How do I choose?

I leave you with the words of St. Ignatius Loyola in his prayer, the Suspice:

 

Take, Lord, and receive all

my liberty,

my memory, my understanding

and

my entire will,

All I have and call my own.

 

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

 

Everything is yours,

Do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace,

That is enough for me.

 

 

 

“Call Me Ishmael”