October 16, 2011

Readings for The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thes 1:1-5b; Mt 22:15-21

Jesus lived during an era that we call today the Pax Romana or peace of Rome. The world would be in relative peace for over three hundred years. However, this peace came with a price. The Roman government was very corrupt and exercised its power with great contempt for those under its control. The absolute ruler of the empire during the latter part of Jesus' life was Tiberius Caesar. He was so hated that the great historian Tacitus records that upon the news of his death the crowd rejoiced, only to become suddenly silent upon hearing that he had recovered, and rejoiced again at the news that Caligula and Macro had smothered him. Pontius Pilate, the immediate governor of Judea was primarily responsible to gather taxes to send to Rome in order to maintain a very oppressive government.

Today's Gospel has Jesus being asked if it is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar. When this tax was first imposed, it provoked a rebellion that was crushed brutally by the Romans. The Herodians were those who collaborated with the Romans through King Herod and therefore received their pay through this tax. While the Herodians and the Pharisees hated each other, the story has them with a common enemy, Jesus. If Jesus were to affirm payment of the poll tax to Caesar, he would have place himself against the people who resented paying what was thought to be unlawful taxes to a heathen government. If Jesus publically opposed the tax he would have made himself out to be an enemy of the state and subjected himself to the charge of sedition.

The response of Jesus to the Pharisees and Herodians is, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." (Mt 22:21) Jesus reminds us that first, we all have a role to play in this world. in 1877 President James Garfield said, "Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature ... if the next centennial does not find us a great nation ... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces."

Today, we as Christians have a very important role to play in our world. We are not an island set apart from the world, we are very much a part of the world and the world needs our leadership to bring about good government and a just society. If our local, state and national leaders are ignorant, reckless or corrupt we are partially to blame. While I was pastor of St. Helen's parish in South Gate, this was an unfortunate lesson that the community learned and is still suffering from the effects of it today. An unobservant public allowed its leaders, who were only concerned for their personal well being into office; nearly bringing the city to bankruptcy. It was only when the public woke up that things changed. We as Christians today have an important responsibility through our support and votes to help choose leaders who are truly moral and just.

Beyond being involved in the affairs of this world, however, Jesus tells us to give to God what belongs to God. All the affairs of this world are passing. As much as we worry about the economy, wars and all of the problems of our world, in the end all of these things are inconsequential. We are at times like children fighting over a candy bar and not appreciating all the other gifts that we have. Yes, it is very important to be active in our world, and to be responsible for that which has been entrusted to our care. Yet, everything in the end has come from God and we return to God all that He has given us.

St. Ignatius of Loyola discovered this only after being wounded in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521. While in recovery, he was inspired to abandon his military life and devote himself to labor for God. In his spiritual exercises, he included a prayer that the Jesuits still use to this day when they take their vows. Receive, O Lord, all my liberty. Take my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. Whatsoever I have or hold, You have given me; I give it all back to You and surrender it wholly to be governed by your will. Give me only your love and your grace, and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more. (Spiritual Exercises, #234).

God Bless,

Father John Provenza

Pastor