Year A Proper 24 2017 Whose Image?

Year A Proper 24, 22 October 2017

St. James the Less Episcopal, Ashland, VA

“Whose Image? ”

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 22:15-22
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

Beware honeyed words. They often contain another agenda, and cannot be taken at face value. Jesus knew this. Anyone with any experience knows this. The Pharisees, strict conservative teachers of the law, and the Herodians, supporters of the Roman occupied rule and their puppet king, came to Jesus with an unanswerable question. There was no win in their either/or. It was the epitome of a “Gotcha” question.

We still have them. “When did you stop stealing from the company?” “Were you drunk again today?” Either way there is a presumption of guilt, and either answer is a self-condemnation. And in front of the crowd, there was a gathering of witnesses to the self-condemnation of this teacher getting too big for his britches.

If Jesus had said that it was “lawful” (to use their word) then those who opposed Roman occupation would have hated Jesus. If he said it was not lawful, there would have been grounds for treason on Jesus’ part and he could have been arrested on the spot. You see, the were looking for a way to get rid of this “troublesome” rabbi.

But Jesus, in his inimitable way, redirected and refocused the conversation. And like in all things, he pointed it back to God. “Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus recognizes we have responsibilities. We are beholden, to use a word that is used far too little. As a part of a community, we have expectations from our receipt of the benefits of the community. From being the people of God, there is an expectation that we are responsible for the upkeep of God’s community of faith.

Some of you got my letter this week, saying God does not need your money, but that God wants your heart. And just like Jesus looked at the coin and saw Caesar’s image, I look at you and I see God’s image.

The Bible begins with that story, and it is foundational to most everything we say and think about God. You and I are made in God’s image. (Genesis 1: 27) The other morning I was walking with my oldest to take her to school and a former neighbor stopped to say hi, and said, “She is looking more and more like her mother everyday!” She is. Lucky thing. And I hope as your priest, that God can say the same thing of you and of me. Everyday we are looking more and more like God. The spittin’ image as we say in the South.

As we hear the words of Jesus, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” We hear him saying that we share with the government what is their share, and we share with God what is God’s.

The English poet, Robert Herrick put it this way:

Christ, He requires still, wheresoe’er He comes,
To feed, or lodge, to have the best of rooms:
Give Him the choice; grant Him the nobler part
Of all the house: the best of all’s the heart.

As we continue in this season looking at our Stewardship of God’s work in this parish and in this town, it takes a commitment on each of our parts. Joyfully, cheerfully, and sacrificially as you are led and enabled, we are called to work together to the glory of God. We do that with our Time, our most precious commodity. We do that with our Talents, those things to which we are uniquely suited. And, we do that with our Treasure, those resources we have at our disposal and a recognized source of power and authority both within and outside the church.

One of the great joys of any church is the children. They are the future and they give us hope. But they are also the present, and today we hear from our youth about the work they are doing now to God’s honor and glory. Today as we hear from them, look for how you see the image of God in them and pause and say thanks to God for that gift.

And as we continue in our campaign, think on where God is at work in you. What dark corner needs to be swept out and cleaned up? What are you holding back that needs to be given over? “Give to God the things that are God’s.”