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Volume 3, Issue 2 October 2008 SAINT JULIE SAYS “We want no ordinary souls here. We must have souls =
of
faith, capable of sacrificing themselves; not perpetually looking into
themselves, but occupied wholly with the interests of God’s
glory.” —St. Julie Billiart, Foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur |
BACKGROUND <= o:p> This
gospel for October 19, 2008 (the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time)=
reminds
us that we have obligations to both church and state. However, the state =
(or
civil authority) does not have the ultimate claim on us; our obligations =
are
first, to God and second, to Caesar.
This
gospel story makes some interesting points. 1. &nbs=
p; The Pharisees and the Herodians joined forces to confront Je=
sus. These two Jewish influential groups (Teachers and ruling par=
ty
members) must have seen Jesus as a threat to the perceived independence of
Israel! Israel was a Roman state in Jesus’ day. 2. &nbs=
p; They challenged
Jesus with a “no-win” question. Roman taxes had to be paid wi=
th
Roman coins. The Roman coin bore the image of Tiberius Caesar, son of the
divine Augustus. The image and the claim of divinity would be offensive to
devout Jews and idolatrous. Thus the dilemma: if Jesus answered
“NO” on religious grounds, the Herodians could accuse him of
rebellion and treason; if he answered “YES” on political grou=
nds,
the Pharisees could accuse him of political collaboration and religiously
acknowledging the alleged divinity of Augustus. 3. &nbs=
p; Jesus raises the stakes by acknowledging that the coin alrea=
dy
belongs to Caesar so give it to him. The denarius was only worth a single
day’s wage. A greater claim is made by God who is owed submission of
the will, obedience of heart, and the surrender of one’s life. Do we
answer to God’s higher authority? Jesus did. |
|
<= o:p> <= o:p> What would the
social or political consequences have been if Jesus simply said “Pay
Caesar”? or “Don’t pay?” What does Jesus
mean by his answer? What should we =
give
to God? What is Jesus
teaching about the relationship between church and state? Which obligatio=
n is
primary? Why? In your life, w=
hat
belongs to Caesar? To God? How well are you
giving to each? <= o:p> |
T=
he
Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in his speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you ar=
e a
truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the tru=
th.
And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not reg=
ard
a person’s status. Tell us then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful=
to
pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” <= o:p> K=
nowing
their malice, Jesus said, “=
;Why
are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census
tax.” <= o:p> T=
hen
they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” <= o:p> T=
hey
replied, “Caesar’s.&=
#8221;
<= o:p> At
that time he said to them, ̶=
0;Then
repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.=
221;
--Matt 22:15-21<=
/a> |
|
P=
RAYER Sit quietly. Breathe
deeply and exhale the stress and anxieties of the day. Ask Jesus to help =
you
be aware of what you need to learn or see. Read each section of =
GIVING
GOD WHAT IS GOD’S slowly. Think about each section as you hear it. =
Pay
attention to any phrases, questions or thoughts that stand out for you. W=
hat
does this mean to you? Re-read a section aga=
in.
Picture the scene. WHAT stands out for you in this particular scene? WHY =
does
it draw you? WHAT is it like for you to listen to the exchanges between t=
he Jesus
and the questioners? Re-read the last
paragraph. How do you living what Jesus asks? Take a few minutes to=
ask
Jesus to help you identify what “belongs to God” in your life=
. Talk
and thank Jesus for being with you. Ask him to help you be more generous =
with
God. |
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Ques=
tions
or Concerns: email AngeleLewisSND@verizon.n=
et. To b=
e REMOVED:
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