The Rev. Robert Lundquist XXII after Pentecost 10/16/05 St Paul’s, Ft Collins

Matthew 22:15-22 http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew+22%3A15-22&vnum=yes&version=nrsvae

Ripped from the headlines! Today’s Gospel lesson seems that way to all of us who’re being assaulted with the battle over Referenda C & D. In the papers, on billboards, and especially on TV, we hear ad nauseum about taxes. May the state keep an average of $100/year of overpaid sales tax that they would otherwise legally have to return to us? If not (a NO vote), our schools, highways and civil service will keep declining. From my perspective it’s the opponents of the measures who are, to put it politely, inaccurate and misleading. Now I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you how to vote. But I will say that I am voting YES on C & D.

I am supporting these measures because I see how the original impulse for such things as public education, public health and welfare sprang out of the Social Gospel movement at the beginning of the 20^th century. These important initiatives were championed by Christians who believed it worthy of our government to pursue a greater good. It is a Gospel image – Emancipation, Civil Rights, Suffrage – all flowed from or encouraged the Social Gospel movement. And I believe we are seeing this struggle anew. So, do I support the separation of Church and State? Absolutely. And do I believe that Gospel values may be, should be carried our on our common behalf without regard to race, creed, and nationality? Unquestionably. Today’s question is, in whose image?

The Emperor’s? Or God’s? In whose image is our society cast?

In today’s Gospel lesson we see Jesus once again on the hot seat. Although the Pharisees are buttering him up, he is not fooled. For his adversaries are setting a trap. “Is it lawful to pay tax to the Emperor?” If Jesus says NO, he is open to the charge of sedition and liable to arrest by the Romans. If he says YES, he would lose support from many of his followers, who resented the occupation by the same Romans. What is not obvious from the reading, though, is that there was more than one currency for the Jews of the time. One paid the Temple tax, or tithe, with coins minted for that purpose. These coins had no human or animal image on them, in accordance with the 2^nd Commandment: “Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth…”

Other taxes, like the customs tax (sales tax) and the land tax, were paid to Rome, in Roman currency. And what was the first task of a new emperor? Minting coinage with his image stamped upon it. There could be no mistake about who was in charge. In Jesus’ time the coins read, “Tiberius, son of Divine Augustus…” So they bore the image of the Caesar, with the claim that he was divine. This obviously offended the Jews, who wouldn’t touch such money unless absolutely necessary. Hence the job of moneychanger in the temple, who would swap temple coins for street cash, making a profit on both sides of the exchange…

To the Pharisees’ question about the lawfulness of paying tax to Caesar, Jesus says, “Show me the coin.” Which tax are you talking about? Seeing the face on the coin, Jesus tells them, “Give it to the Emperor.” That would be the end of the story, except that Jesus continues – “And give what belongs to God to God.” You see, for Jesus it’s all about the image. The coin shows Caesar. What bears God’s image?

The great Good News is, You bear the image of God. You are wonderfully made in the image of likeness of God, your Creator [Genesis 1:27 - Online Text -]. And we go on to acknowledge that God created all that is. So when we give to God what is God’s, we acknowledge God’s sovereignty. That means if all that is is God’s, what seems to be mine is a loan. That makes me a trustee of God’s bounty – in other words, a steward.

How are we to go about being God’s steward? It’s often assumed that we already know. I can tell you that it can be, and usually is, incredibly challenging. I believe there are 3 steps in becoming God’s trustee:

Self-esteem. “I am somebody.” This is an early developmental step – discovering self-worth. We’ve all seen how acquisitive a 4 year-old can be: “Gimme!” It’s a way of proclaiming, “I’m important, I’m worthy, I’m deserving.” It’s a necessary first step! Each of us must know that “God loves me, I am special, I am loved.” As we say in the Eucharist, “The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you…” You are that important to God.

Recognizing human worth. Remember this one? “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world…” That childhood Sunday School song may one of the first teachings that God’s love for me overflows – and touches others. If I am loved by and important to God, so is my neighbor. This is what Jesus is teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan - Online Text - . Though the victim is passed by by two of his own, he is rescued by a Samaritan, from whom he is separated by a host of social barriers. But the Samaritan obviously saw a neighbor in need rather than an enemy. “God and do likewise,” says Jesus. At thing stage of development our concerns for justice emerge, as does empathy for the poor. Everyone created by God is worth.

Servanthood. Service is the response to our Loving God, as modeled by the Servant Christ. When we know who we are, and whose we are, and whose image we bear, we are well on our way to becoming God’s servants. Not as slaves, who have no choice, no self-esteem. We serve because we choose to serve, not because another is better. Jesus lives this truth. He was nobody’s doormat; and while he wouldn’t do everything for everyone, he would do anything for anyone. In our Gospel today we see that Jesus was no fool – he spots the trap a mile away. It’s clear then that he chose the Cross – he didn’t blunder into the Crucifixion. He is the Suffering Servant, for your sake.

In Jesus’ footsteps, then, each of us is growing into God’s steward, God’s trustee. And we now know what is to be rendered to Caesar. What is to be rendered to God? Jesus said, “See the Country of God first with its goodness, and everything necessary will come about in proper order.” - Online Text - Any other “first” thing is an idol. Period, full stop. Anything put ahead of God is an idol.

Now when you go into the voting booth on Nov. 1 you are carrying out your civic duty. You are participating in government for us all. Especially this year you have an opportunity to bring God’s realm and Caesar’s world a bit closer to each other. And keep in mind, always, whose image you bear. “Pay God what is due to God,” said Jesus. May we all have the wisdom and patience to do precisely so.

AMEN.

A Parish For All People!