Greetings on this the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21
Summary
For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction (1 Thes 1:5ab).
Reflection
In our first reading today we see King Cyrus of Persia, whose conquering actions are to be understood within the context of the power of God. Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, Subduing nations before him, stripping kings of their strength, Opening doors before him, leaving the gates unbarred (Isa 45:1).
King Cyrus liberated the Jewish people from Babylonian domination. Israel remained a vassal state but with religious freedoms and reasonable governance (certainly in contrast to previous nations). Previous to the Persian conquest (Assyrian, Babylon), the relationships were described as Suzerain-Vassal Covenants. Persia, introduced a radical innovation of governance by imperial Edict rather than subjective treaty, that is, institutionalized tolerance, cultural pluralism, and local autonomy. Later Greek and Roman conquerors frequently reverted to more heavy-handed methods of regional control.
So Cyrus stands out as unique and therefore he is accredited with the divine aid in his approach. Whether Cyrus knew or not does not change the fact his perspective was guided by the Lord. The Lord works through the godly and ungodly, the informed and uninformed. Nevertheless, be subject to the new overlords BUT Go out from Babylon (Isa 48:20). Meaning your first love is the Lord and His City, Jerusalem.
In our gospel portion today, Jesus is confronted with the situation about the Roman overlords.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Mt 22:17-21).
In a similar way, Jesus recognizes the Roman overlord status, allowing for some civil influence but in the end obey the Lord not man. Earthly rulers may claim their tax, but only God claims ownership over the human soul. In the end, we give civil due to the State, but we obey and worship the Lord alone.
Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth (Gen 1:26).
Image and Likeness
In a condensed form, one ancient theological tradition distinguishes them this way:
- Image is the static nature, what we are in essence, and what we possess in characteristic (intellect, reason and spirit).
- Likeness is the way we act and grow dynamically with virtue and holiness.
So we are constituted to think and be true to our essence in the Lord and we are called to be Like him in an every changing and deepening ways. It’s not about the image ON the coin rather the image IN the person.
Personal Reflection
With the eight lights of the Menorah glowing brightly in her window, Rabbi Posner’s wife, Rachel, snapped a photo of the Menorah and captured the Nazi building and flag in the background. She wrote a few lines in German on the back of the photo. “Chanukah 5692, (1932), “Death to Judah”, So the flag says, “Judah will live forever”, So the light answers.
Be light. Know the difference.
Reference: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/menorah-defies-nazi-flag/
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101826.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry