Walking with Jesus: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, October 22, 2023

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21

Why were the Jewish leaders set on proving that Jesus was not God — was not from God — and was a charlatan at best? It’s interesting looking at the definition of charlatan as a noun: a quack, sham, fraud, fake, imposter, pretender, cheat, deceiver. Why do people want to classify God this way? Are they afraid of God? Do they feel that if they admit that God is the creator of the universe, they'll realize they have to change their way of living? If I set myself up as the authority on God, where do I get my credentials? Who am I to judge what I am not: GOD! If there is a God, what is due God? Am I the one to make that decision? God is God! I did not create myself — nor can anyone create themselves.

Richard Rodgers composed a special song for The Sound of Music:

Perhaps I had a wicked childhood, perhaps I had a miserable youth
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past there must have been a moment of truth.
For here you are, standing there, loving me, whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood I must have done something good.

Today’s gospel is based on a story found in Mark 12:2-34, where there is an exchange between Jesus and a scribe. Here in Matthew the purpose is to TEST Jesus.

Note: How often have we tested Jesus and asked why … or complained … or said it’s not fair … or You don’t like me? We want answers, but the bottom line is that God doesn’t seem to answer WHY questions. He does ask if we have faith. Do I? Do you?

The first part of Isaiah’s book (39:5-7) ends with the tragic news that one day the kingdom of Judah will collapse and be taken over by Babylon’s mighty army. Why? Because the king and people have refused to seek security first in God. Now things have changed. God says if you trust Me and my plan and leave the land of exile, returning home, all will be safe. Over and over Isaiah emphasizes that the Lord is the only God. The people feel that they control their own destiny. But God’s purpose in creating is for all to be with Him forever. Can I do any better?

Paul echoes the necessary response: Be thankful to God for everything. The Thessalonian community has worked hard on the major God virtues: faith, hope and love. God is always with us, but it seems that maybe He has abandoned us. He hasn’t. Anything and everything we have is a gift. Nothing in this beautiful world was created by any of us. We didn’t invent clouds, or beautiful crape myrtles, or the sweet-bay magnolia trees that so easily change our moods and direct us to true beauty. We also do not keep the planet spinning. We don’t make rain. God does.

Initially the Gospel seems to be concentrating on what belongs to the world (e.g., Caesar, the government) or to God. Jesus is not trapped as they hope, but is putting all life ... all our earthy journey ... into perspective. We notice that the Herodians suggest great respect for Jesus, referring to Him as Teacher … with tongue in cheek, I would add. Is it lawful to pay the census tax or not? THEY think no matter how Jesus answers, He is trapped! He asks for a coin — a denarius — which customarily is needed to pay the Roman tax. They produce a coin, but they preach that Jews cannot carry these coins or use them. Hmmm … Jesus says pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. What does that mean? The Jews believe that everything belongs to God. Don’t we still struggle with the competing claims of Church vs. State?

A resolution can be found in what Vatican Council II taught in the Church in the Modern World #75:

The Church regards as worthy of praise and consideration the work of those who, as a service to others, dedicate themselves to the welfare of the state and undertake the burdens of this task.

Followers of Jesus are called to bring an authentic Christian voice to government and political affairs. Jesus died that all people might acknowledge God’s authority in their lives. This is only possible if we follow the Holy Spirit’s lead in loving all with God’s love. How am I doing? This is my daily reflection.

So I reflect on:

• The image on the coin was made by human hands for human purposes. What’s MY roman coin today? What in my life is stamped with MY image instead of GOD’s?
• You and I have been made in the image and likeness of GOD. Am I living that?  What do I need to do that?

Sacred Space 2023 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.”