Proper 24 A + Why not both? + 10.22.23
M. Campbell-Langdell
All Santos, Oxnard
(Exodus
33:12-23; Psalm
99; 1
Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew
22:15-22)
Matthew 22:19-22
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.
I had a convicting experience at the conference I attended several
years back. I was surrounded by art that also spoke to our spiritual experience.
During our sacred space time, we wandered around the large room dotted with
little tables covered with different art installations over which to ponder and
pray, as well as art hung from the walls or the ceiling. Some of it was
interactive. And I kept realizing – I could do this! Not to the same extent as
the artists who had come. Clearly, they were more accomplished. But I came to
realize that, although I am very interested in art and have used it in my own
spiritual life for several years, I have not always seen so clearly how to
integrate it into parish life. Until I saw these two with their prayer
stations. Some exquisite, but most beautifully simple. And I thought, I could
do that.
I told God, I have focused on just being a pastor and letting
others do the art. And I felt a response in my heart: “Why not both?” It is
interesting as this has taken different shapes over the years – sometimes I try
to write poetry or do other creative work, but art has always been important to
be in one form or another.
Why not both? I believe this statement speaks to today’s
scripture.
Jesus has those who would trick him bring him a denarius. And
he asks them about the image on the coin. Whose is it? God or the emperor?
A trick question for a trick question.
Because yes, the answer is correct- it is the emperor on the
coin. But also, the emperor’s coin shows him as son of God. The coin literally
has an image of the head of Tiberius, the emperor, and around the bust it says:
“Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus, Augustus.”[1]
Because the Roman empire set up Augustus Caesar, Tiberius’ step-dad, as a God,
and so in the Roman logic, the divinity passes down to Tiberius. But of course,
this is the rub – Jesus said that he was the real Son of God, whereas the
emperor was just a son of an emperor who was following in the ancient tradition
of making himself seem like a God in order to bring compliance to the people. Jesus
is the real Prince of Peace. Even though Caesar Augustus used that term too,
his peace was just a forced end to fighting. There’s another nuance here. They
are in the temple. Why are they carrying a graven image? They should have
exchanged that coin at the door. But whether they are inside or outside the
temple, they exist within the Roman Empire.
So, Jesus says yes, we must give to the emperor that which is
the emperor’s. Which means yes, we pay the tax. Sorry folks –we have to keep
paying the IRS! There is no way to extricate ourselves fully from our
conflicted responsibilities living in this world. When there isn’t an emperor
to pay, there is always another government needing your contribution. That’s
just the way it is. There are always those things we have to do until the
kingdom comes that are mixed-some good and some bad.
But comfort with money and paying tribute to the emperor can
lead to a certain idolatry, as is the case with this coin. Last week, in the
reading from Exodus, we saw the people raise up a Golden Calf, and in today’s
reading they have turned from this idolatry, and they see God, or at least
Moses does, on their behalf. How do we keep turning from idols, and keep
looking toward God, even though we live in this broken world?
Back to the gospel passage, Jesus then says the thing that
really stirs the pot. Give to God that which is God’s. This is not just a fancy
rhetorical side-step on Jesus’ part. This is the heart of the matter. Why not
both? Because... what is not God’s? And so, this is the challenge to you and to
me. How to find a way to give back all that God has given us by not only
acquiescing to living in this world with its conflicted loyalties, but also
finding a way to give back to God.
How can we offer back all that God has so generously granted
us, truly giving thanks to God? Sometimes we give back for family and personal
needs, sometimes for God’s needs; ministries and other good deeds. But all of
it is about repairing the world – giving our grain of sand so we can knit some
part of the universe back together, our attempt to make it more whole.
Because the simpler way we interpret this at this time of
year is to give of our Time, Treasure and Talent for the work of God’s kingdom.
This may be in regular giving to the church and or to other charitable organizations
which we feel are doing God’s work. And that is absolutely needed! But we are
generous not just because every little bit helps us keep on doing the ministry
we are doing in this community and around the world. But also, because we need
to be able to both live in this world and give our “all” back to God.
Giving our “all” back to God means two things. One, if you
are up for the challenge, it means that you give to God off the top of your
income before you even pay any other bills. Of course you have to be in a place
of a certain amount of stability in order to do that. But just try it, with a
very limited percentage at first, and you will be amazed how much this gesture
of trust helps you realize just how fully reliant you are on God to continue providing
everything else. It’s like a dare: God, I will give you this, but you then must
give me what I need. Not everything I want, but enough. And I will be OK. Over
the years, through thicker and thinner times, I have also found this decreases
my anxiety. I do my part, and God does God’s part. It comes together.
But it goes even farther. It means looking at your whole self and meditating a
bit. What gifts has God given you? Are you using all of them to the fullest? Or
are you just focusing on surviving in this world and letting other people do
the important work? I honestly think we have to banish the concept of important
work, in a way. Not many of us will do truly game-changing work. But each of us
has a special gift to share, and letting our light glow just ever so slightly
less because it is easier that way does us all a disservice. It doesn’t honor
God. Instead, let us celebrate the gifts God has given us. And let us ask: What
belongs to the rulers of this world? And what belongs to God? And how can I
give generously of my whole self, to the world? What is God asking me to do?
And perhaps that annoying question: “Why not both?” Amen.
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