October 19, 2008

You may have had the experience that on some Sunday mornings, the gospel passage we read seems remote and far-removed from our daily experience.  Sometimes we have to stretch our imaginations to see the relevant and life-giving connections between 1^st century Palestinians living under oppression and 21^st century folk living free and unencumbered by leprosy and demonic possession, murderous tenants, bad grapes and wheat choked by weeds.  Sometimes the good news of Jesus Christ seems stuck in a different time, in a far off place, hard to access and hard to appreciate.

But there are other lessons and other days when the experience confronting Jesus and his first followers is so familiar and timely that we make the connections immediately.  This is the case this morning.  The drama and tension between the Pharisees and Jesus, Rome and God, earthly concerns and faith are relatable realities to us in October, 2008.  The stress and anxiety revealed in Matthew’s passage mirrors the news from Wall Street and Washington, which attacks our confidence and assaults our peace of mind today.  In a time of political unrest and financial crisis, Jesus spoke words that brought focus and new direction, comfort and enduring rewards.  He had eternal answers.  He articulated a saving plan for his people in an ancient time that remains viable and effective for us 2000 years later.  Just as he gathered crowds, thousands and thousands of worried people, concerned citizens, and anxious families in the days he walked across Galilee, Jesus’ message offers hope and reliable answers to troubled people across our land and the world beyond. 

Examine the parallels and breathe in the peace the Son of God offers.  As the passage opens, Jesus is living as a Jew in a once great country now occupied by Roman troops.  The glory of Israel is forgotten.  The golden days of David and Solomon are over.  Self rule, religious freedom, booming economy, thriving culture are benefits of the past.  Times are hard, relief is far away and hope is drying up fast.  Everyone is tense.  Everyone is short-tempered and short-sighted.  Immediate answers, quick fixes, holding on to the power you have left are the motivating factors of the day.  Roman soldiers and officials want order in the streets and strict compliance with the tax code. T hey want money flowing out of the purses of their Jewish subjects into their war chest and into the emperor’s palace back home.  The Jewish officers, the Pharisees and priests want to flex the little influence they’ve retained.  They see their voice and hold weakening.  They see their way of life and religious principles slipping away.  The more Rome demands, the more the people resist, the more desperate they become.  The Pharisees are out of touch with their people.  Their answers no longer inspire or comfort.  External pressures are irritating enough; internal dissension can not be tolerated.  Who is this Jesus?  What’s his agenda?  If the people listen to him, will we be left behind?  If the people listen to him, Rome will hold us accountable.  We will have failed to keep order.  Their retribution will be swift and harsh.  The Pharisees are motivated, highly motivated, to discredit Jesus.  They aren’t particular about how it happens.  Either the people can turn against him, or the Roman officials can cart him away.  Silencing the “teacher”, the “new voice”, the “prophetic visionary” is the goal.  The methods are irrelevant.  And so they plot.  They create a lose-lose dilemma and pull Jesus into a debate.  They begin with flattery, hoping to charm and disarm him.  “Teacher, we know you are sincere.  You teach the way of God with truth.”  Then they set the trap.  “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”  If Jesus responds “No,” they will report him to Pilate and he will be imprisoned or worse.  If he says yes, than the people will be discouraged and feel betrayed.  The high taxes are consigning them to poverty and the accompanying despair.  They look to Jesus for relief and a way out of their trouble.  Jesus is completely aware of all the dynamics at play.  He knows the motivation and anxiety of the players and the times.  He is also keenly aware of his mission and his role in the present and for the future.  He is not moved off course.  He will not be manipulated.  Jesus stays on message.  He says the truth I bring is the truth for all time, for all situations.  My answers, my plan comes from God and is not circumstantial.  Listen, learn, follow and live free.

A glorious nation in trouble. Political unrest. Financial distress.  Economic uncertainty.  Uninspiring cultural influences.  Rising crime.  Disaffected families.  This was the landscape where Jesus walked.  Does it look familiar?  Trouble in Bible and trouble in our time often mirror each other.  This truth can be disheartening.  We can become discouraged, believing nothing ever really changes, that we are destined to fall into predictable patterns, making bad choices, ending up in inevitable messes.  We can conclude that human nature being what it is will drive us to destructive ends and there is no real help for us.  We can become cynical about our species, our world, even our creator. Trouble in the Bible, trouble in our times.  Trouble, trouble, trouble.  Is there any relief?  Is there any reason to hope? 

The downtrodden, besieged, worried people of Israel found both.  In the person, in the message of Jesus, they located relief and hope.  His answers brought them confidence and peace.  He raised their sights.  He pointed them out of the momentary towards the everlasting.  He reminded them of the prize, the long term goal and the eternal rewards.  “Show me the coin used for the tax.  Whose head is this, and whose title?  Give therefore to the emperor the things that are his, and to God the things that are God’s.”  Jesus answers the power structure and he encourages the people.  He says, Listen, you are now living in the world and the world has earthly political and economic realties.  They have some influence over your life.  They must be attended to, but they are not the powers that define your life.  They do not create your sense of well-being and worth.  They do not heighten or lessen your place in the heart of the one who made you.  Taxes, income, securities, impact your daily living, but only to the extent that you allow them influence.  Less earthly concerns mean more eternal rewards.  Pay minimal attention the constraints of this world and devote energy to the things that interest your heavenly father.  Jesus reminds the people that life is short, 90 years, sometimes 100.  Life is short, but eternity, well, that goes on forever. 

Obsessing about the here and now, storing up treasure for this short life, living in worry, chasing the guaranteed investment, following the letter of a religious code will keep you distracted, but all that effort will not bring you lasting peace nor will it keep you safe.  The reality of life on earth is this – we live a schizophrenic experience.  We exist under man and under God.  We live under the rule and sway of human institutions and human policies.  By their nature, they are limited and flawed.  They will fail.  They will falter and re-emerge.  Banks fail, stocks fall, leaders deceive, and money is lost.  People get desperate and violent, discouraged and depressed.  Relationships are damaged.  Life under human rule is dicey and unpredictable.  As we live the human-in-charge experience, we also live the under-God-reality.  As we maneuver day to day through taxes and traffic, we also move along a spiritual plane carried in the protective hands of God.  In that dimension, there is no limitation or threat of failure.  Life with God is predictable and sure.  All promises are guaranteed, all consequences are known and delivered.  Life with God is secured and, most importantly, life with God is long.  Giving God the things that are God’s is our best investment.  God takes excellent care of our resources in the present and for our extended, extended future.  God guards our time, our energy, our hearts, and our good work.  He protects all we give him.  He rewards our trust and multiplies our devotion.  Peace, serenity, self-ease, gladness, these are the hallmarks of one who pays minimal attention to the pressing demands of the world and maximum attention to the ideals for heaven.  Have you ever noticed the affect of deeply religious people?  Monks and nuns and friars and saints are non-agitated folk.  You don’t see them turning red watching the Dow.  They seem immune to road rage.  They don’t rant about political candidates.  Deeply religious people, people deeply invested in God are not troubled by crisis.  They have a long term perspective.  They visualize the big picture and they rest.  They are at ease in the certainty that God is in charge, all is ultimately his.  They know God handles all things well and in good order. 

So, deeply religious folk are the people who hear and heed the message of Jesus.  Render to Caesar, these powers of the world, the things that are theirs to rule – some money, some thought, some basic civilized behavior.  Render to God the things that are his – consistent attention and devotion, our prayers and worship, good works – the care of others, and the stewardship of the earth, faith – belief that God is present in the world and effective good in everything he touches. 

The question Jesus put before the Pharisees is the one he puts before us today.  Are we people of the coin or are we people of heaven.  To whom are we giving our best?  How is that investment working out of us?