WHAT CAN A SIMPLE COIN REVEAL?

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

                       

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” 

These are the first two sentences to the Declaration of Independence (Preamble), which I felt fitting to share for this political season.  From my vantage point, it is a season of positioning for public support through carefully crafted messages, competing agendas, and promises to make this election “all about you”.  It is a season of party alignments and distancing, as candidates reveal their vision for local and national priorities.  For me, and with those of whom I have had political discussions, we find ourselves increasingly frustrated in the available choices while trying to maintain alignment with our Catholic Christian values.  It is exactly here, where, we enter the reality of scripture.

You’d think Jesus was running for office as His opponents approach.  An odd alliance representing opposite points of view yet approaching with the same agenda, get Jesus to self-incriminate himself in his response.  The Pharisees, whose power is in the synagogue opposed the paying of foreign taxes, first butter him up and ask the question, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax…?” (Mt 22:17)  In their concern for Torah practice, “Is it lawful…” equals “Is it in line with Torah…”  Jesus “knowing their malice” calls them out “you hypocrites” and without waiting for a response, asks to see the coin.  What can a simple coin reveal?  Jesus’ opponents are embarrassed by their possession of the unholy Roman coin, likely produced by the Herodian’s, which would immediately put them at odds with their collaborators in challenging Jesus.  Followers of the Pharisees avoided all contact with such an idolatrous object.[1]  By asking them to describe the coin Jesus highlights the embarrassing evidence.

This is the beginning of a four week series acknowledging “The Lord is King and there is no other”.  This means “living with a conviction of heart” that leaves a clear message to any onlooker where our true allegiance lies.

The story of Jesus and the Roman coin is sometimes used to argue that Christians should not worry about how our religious and political duties may conflict; how one can pay to Caesar what is due Caesar without worrying how it might take away from that which is due God.  Yet the division between the secular and sacred is often a blurry line.[2]

During the political season I regularly get asked by faithful people, “Why doesn’t the Church clearly tell us how or whom to vote?”  I believe she does.  In a way, the Church asks Jesus’ question of us, “show me the coin…”  From the beginning God has commanded us, “I, the Lord, am your God… You shall not have other gods besides me.” (Ex 20:2-3)  Jesus, himself, taught us the cure to anxiety telling us, “But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness …” (Mt 6:33).  He clarified forever the difference between kingdoms made on earth and the one created by God stating, “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” (Lk 17:21).  In the gospel of the former tax collector, Matthew, Jesus shows us more than 50 times the way to this Kingdom that is not in a palace or above the sky or beneath the sea but “at hand” (Mt 4:17).

The Church calls us to vote by a fully informed conscience and scripture calls us to be discerning people concerning the possible conflicts between our political loyalties and our ultimate loyalty, which is to God.  In our discernment, we need to be aware of the possibility that our political leaders may expect more from us than they rightfully should; demanding an absolute loyalty that rightly belongs only to God.[3]  We have been formed and informed in the ways of the sacred and the secular throughout all of history.

What can a simple coin reveal?  How todays gospel can interestingly shed light on one of the raging debates of our own time.[4]  As Michael Leach quips:

“Paying taxes?  Petty change.

Following Jesus?  Priceless!”

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[1] Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. Bruce J. Malina & Richard L Rohrbaugh © 2003.  Fortress Press, Minneapolis

[2] Living the Word.  Laurie Brink, O.P. and Deacon Frederick Bauerschmidt © 2013.  World Library Publications

[3] Ibid.

[4] Naked, and You Clothed Me.  Edited by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2013.  Clear Faith Publishing LLC.  “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” by Michael Leach.

AM I GIVING OR RECEIVING?

Source(s): New American Bible Revised Edition © 2010, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Inc. Washington, DC
                  A Call to Kinship, © 2005 by Elaine Prevallet, Just Faith, Inc. Louisville, KY

From the beginning this has been God's view when it comes to the poor and needy:

“If one of your kindred is in need in any community in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand against your kin who is in need. Instead, you shall freely open your hand and generously lend what suffices to meet that need.” (Dt 15:7-8)

Catholic social teaching is rooted in God’s preferential option for the poor. God’s vision really turns society’s vision of who number one is up-side-down, which is so eloquently expressed in the CANTICLE OF MARY:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.

He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Lk 1:46-55)

Mary’s song celebrates the coming of a new age: when God’s mighty arm will once again show itself on behalf of the lowly, the hungry, and the poor. Simeon’s blessing of Jesus in the Temple clearly communicates the world is NOT getting what it expects:  “… Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted…” (Lk 2:34)

In the five years I have been a Permanent Deacon I have become intimately aware of the deacon’s ministry, as St. Pope John Paul II has said, “is the Church’s service sacramentalized.” At the very heart of the deacon’s call is to be servant of the mysteries of Christ and, at the same time, to be a servant of our brothers and sisters in need. In the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6, we find the first deacons were brought forward by the community to assist with the just distribution of food to the widows who were being neglected. For the last thirteen years as President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Brevard County, I’ve tried to live this calling to be a servant of our communities working poor, brothers and sisters who are in need of simple, decent, affordable housing. All these years did not prepare me for my encounter with the real face poverty.

Last year I did a mission trip with Catholic Relief Services to Madagascar. The interesting thing about the trip for me was the planning phase, because I was planning for two trips. The Madagascar trip and a Caribbean cruise my wife and I were taking. In reality, while I was studying for the mission trip, Judy did the planning for the cruise. What I learned about Madagascar was that the population in 2012 was estimated at just over 22 million, 90 percent of whom live on less than two dollars per day. What I saw was shockingly heart breaking. I thought I knew poverty until that trip. Yet, in the midst of abject poverty there was a resolve to survive, joy and a loving welcome and sharing whatever they had. Do you know when this hit me the hardest, on the cruise. The people I met in Madagascar wasted nothing; no food went into the trash. It was consumed or saved for later. On the cruise what do you think I saw? It got to the point that I was uncomfortable eating in the dining room, yet the big lesson learned for me. Take only what I needed and eat it all. I clear my plate even now.

I’ve told you this story to bring you to a level of consciousness to the challenge of serving the poor. Pope Francis called on the world’s priests to bring the healing power of God’s grace to everyone in need, to stay close to the marginalized and to be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.” This goes for the deacons especially as our primary call is to be serving God’s sheep, being the icon of Christ the Servant. It is also for all the baptized, when we profess our Amen when receiving the Body and Blood of our Savior at the Eucharist feast, we are accepting Gods command to serve his people, to share in His preferential option for the poor, “with the smell of sheep”.

Beware though! All too often we can get caught in the trap of thinking the things we are doing “for” the poor can cloud our vision of God’s full intent. Our service is not just for the good of the poor who seek our help. I believe it is God’s intention to help us meet and know Jesus more intimately. Spend some time contemplating what we’re receiving in our service to others. As we gain understanding and embrace these graces we can become better advocates for those most in need within our community.

I’ll leave you with this quote by Blessed Frederic Ozanam: "You must not be content with tiding the poor over the poverty crisis; you must study their condition and the injustices which brought about such poverty, with the aim of long term improvement.”

IT’S A NUPTIAL THING

Source(s):      Scriptures:  Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20

                        Living the Word.  Laurie Brink, O.P. and Deacon Frederick Bauerschmidt © 2013.  World Library Publications

                        Naked, and You Clothed Me.  Edited by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2013.  Clear Faith Publishing LLC.  “I am with you always, until the end of the age” by Fr. Paul Holmes.

                        Jesus The Bridegroom, The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.  Dr. Brant Pitre © 2014.  Crown Publishing Group

The Story of a Parish rebuilt. Michael White and Tom Corcoran © 2013.  Ava Maria Press

How many of us desire a more intimate relationship with God?  I would suspect most of us.  Someone once said that intimacy is a work in progress.  Marriage preparation is an important process in our Judeo-Christian tradition, as a couple prepares themselves for a lifelong covenant relationship with each other.  Pope Benedict XVI noted that the Ascension is not so much the departure of Jesus as it is “the beginning of a new nearness.”  So the Ascension and, I would dare to suggest, all of scripture is a “nuptial” thing.

Consider this concept in light of one of the most misunderstood and often dreaded wedding readings, Ephesians 5:22-29 which states, “²²Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.” and “²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her…”

Old Testament: God initiates a covenant relationship with his creation and in a special way the nation of Israel.  With great signs and wonders He leads his people to become a great nation… “I will take you as my own people, and you shall have me as your God.” (Ex 6:7)  What happens when Israel strays from God’s covenant?  Hard times a divided kingdom, separated from God.  What is the nation of Israel compared to when they go astray?  A Harlot/Prostitute (One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose).  This covenant relationship comes with responsibilities…  It calls for acceptance, self-offering, sacrifice and obedience.  A commitment to the relationship.  ^“Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.”

New Testament: Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom.  Who is his bride?  The Church.  Through his passion & death, his complete and total offering of himself – even unto death, death on a cross is how Jesus accepts his role, basically his “I do” to the marriage covenant.  “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her…” 

     After his resurrection, while he is still with his disciples, he instructs his bride (the Church) on how the relationship works, among themselves and their role in the world and going back to the 5^th Sunday of Easter Jesus tells his disciples, “…I am going to prepare a place for you … I will be back again and take you to myself…” (Jn 14:2-3)  This is the Jewish wedding preparation routine; Betrothal, the groom goes to prepare a place for his bride as a sign that he can and will provide for her, and then the groom returns to take his bride and consummates the marriage.

     Jesus had to leave to “prepare a place” for us.  So the Ascension is about an intimate union between God and Jesus, the consummation of the marriage covenant between God and humanity. 

     Guess what?  Within this covenant relationship we have responsibilities.  Just as the married couple is to be a sign of Jesus’ self-giving love for his bride, the Church, this is the Eucharist in which we participate.  Really listen to the words and prayers of the liturgy of the Eucharist, you will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful and intimate love language.  So when we profess to be in communion with the Church, when we receive the body and blood of Christ, our Amen is our “I do” to the covenant relationship with God.  We are professing & accepting we are Jesus’ bride, this generations’ disciples.

     The two men who appear with the apostles asking, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” (Acts 1:11)  Is a reminder to them and us there are responsibilities to be carried out, that discipleship is NOT a spectator sport.

     We are being called to action, to live our “I do” to this intimate covenant relationship as the bride, to “be subordinate … as to the Lord” and “to love … as Christ loved.”  Jesus always prepared his disciples for service and insisted on their support and assistance to spread the good news of the kingdom.  He expects nothing less of us, his modern day disciples.

     The Great Commissioning charges us to “…teach them [all nations everyone we come in contact with] to observe all that I have commanded of you.” (Mt 28:20)  The new evangelization calls for us to “LIVE”, which encompasses more than preaching, but by witnessing by our actions, just what Jesus commanded his early disciples at his ascension.  No matter what our vocation in life is; clergy, married, single … we are called to a life of service, of sacrifice, of unity, of mercy, and of love.  We are to live a life reflective of the nuptial relationship we so much desire with our God.

     Pastor Bill Hybels, who has assembled one of that largest volunteer church ministry staffs in the county, at his church outside Chicago, says it very well when he writes,  “Imagine what would happen if people in our world—by the masses—took up serving towels, draped them over their arms and willingly (even joyfully!) served other people in their everyday lives.  Such attitudes and actions would change our world!  I believe a volunteer revolution can happen and that the church should set the pace and energetically lead the way.  In my view, people are never closer to living out the teachings of Christ than when they are adding value to someone else’s life.  And people who are far from God are rarely more impacted than when they see twenty-first-century Christ-followers behaving as Christ behaved.”