Here is Deacon Christines sermon for this weekend at Christ Ascension. This week’s gospel brings up a subject that is often difficult to handle from the pulpit_(money). In our materialistic economy, congregations often struggle to have honest conversation about the way we earn, spend and invest money. Well in this week’s gospel, Jesus opponents wanted to discredit him by luring him into a debate about taxes. The Pharisees have been conspiring to destroy Jesus since Matthew 12:14. They tested him to no avail in Matthew 16:1 and 19:3. So these Herodians conspired with the Pharisees to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the people. The odd thing about this is that the Pharisees hated Rome and claimed it was heresy to pay Rome taxes, and the Herodians wanted a better relationship with Rome and approved Roman taxation. The only reason they joined forces was because they both hated Jesus and wanted to destroy him. They want Jesus to say something that they can use against him to show that he is a religious fraud or worse, a threat to the government. First they heaped praises on Jesus by saying we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Then they ask the question: Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? They wanted to know where he stands on the question of devotion to God and country. Where do his loyalties lie? To whom does he give his ultimate Allegiance? Jesus asks to see the coin used to pay taxes. The coin had the image of Caesar Augustus along with an inscription that he was the “son of divine Augustus.” Then Jesus says, give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and God the things that are God’s. Jesus intellectual ability is no match for his opponents. They thought they were going to trap him with a trick question, but the question exposed their hypocrisy. Jesus stood his grounds on the basis of the first commandment. His mission will not be side tracked by political spin There are two things that are certain in life; death and taxes. I assume that most of us know the meaning of April 15th It is the dreaded day that most people taxes are due. The IRS, is one of the most despised agencies of government and it’s only job is to take our hard earned money in the form of taxes. It doesn’t matter that these revenues help fund important services that we benefit from, it still hurts to pay taxes. In recent months the reputation of the IRS has taken a bigger hit, whether true or not, due to its investigation of certain groups who might be overstepping the boundaries placed around tax exempt organizations. What ever your view of this latest situation, we must admit that tax collector have never been popular. Not in biblical times and not today. There was a variety of taxes levied on the people of the empire, but this was the most despised of all taxes. Rome levied a tax on the people to pay for Roman legion that controlled the region. As you might expect, occupied people never like paying the salaries of their occupiers. The main point in this gospel has to do with people who claim religious authority but do not obey God. We are also to give to God what belongs to him, what bears his image and his name. We are to give ourselves to God. Not once but repeatedly. Giving ourselves to God is to be always a part of our lives, something that defines and shapes who we are. We are not called upon to simply give the emperor what belongs to the emperor. We are called upon to give to relatives, friends, strangers, co-workers, employees and all other people. Nobody says this is easy. All of us make mistakes along the way. But we must recognize the task for what it is, give to God what is God’s. And the best of it is that in putting God first the other demands made on us can fall into their proper places. Loving God first gives us wisdom and understanding to love others in their uniqueness in ways that are right for them and us. Once we give to God what is God, then we are free to give to others in ways that are life-giving rather than distorted and destructive. But when we get it right by giving to God what is Good’s and to others in the best way possible, then a transformation occurs. We no longer picture ourselves as givers. We are receivers, recipients of divine generosity. I want to challenge you as you grow closer to God. Remember we are God’s coins and bear the image of God. There is to be no completion between God and government. Our allegiance must be to Christ and Christ alone.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 18:40:44 +0000
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