29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr A
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr A
22 Oct 2017
Homily
There are at least two quite revolutionary items in the Readings we hear today.
The first is in our first Reading. The Ancient World generally accepted that their kings were representatives of their gods – but each of his own god. Here Isaiah is not simply proclaiming that Cyrus is an instrument of a god; he is the instrument of the one God – the one with whom Israel is in covenant! (Incidentally, that image of the ruler’s right hand being grasped is a very common one in Ancient iconography and writings.)
Generally the rulers of other peoples were not treated too well by the Old Testament writers, but the people are being told that a foreign ruler can actually be – and is – and instrument of God and can do good. This is very revolutionary stuff.
Then, in the Gospel we have Jesus being confronted by an unlikely alliance – the Pharisees, religiously educated and generally opposing Roman legitimacy and the Herodians. The Herodians were those who profited from Roman rule. Yet, recognising the threat that Jesus poses to their own power bases they have joined forces. Truly, an example of the mindset of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Here, the two groups challenge Jesus on the legitimacy of Roman rule – but who is left out of the question? God – neither of the two challengers brings God’s role into the question! The Pharisees in particular would be wrongfooted by Jesus response. They, the very people whose authority depends on their knowledge of God’s Law, left God out!
Here is the second revolutionary idea – Jesus separating the role of God and the state/civil society. In the Ancient world, and in some places today, societies did not see a break between their religious rules and civil ones. In many places religion itself was a state affair. Jesus is telling them – and us – that these can, and should be separate.
There are plenty of examples from history of state’s using religion as their claim to legitimacy, e.g modern Saudi Arabia. An extreme example is the various fundamentalist terrorist groups. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of Christian groups using the state to impose its own ideas by varying degrees of force.
As Christians, we cannot impose our own beliefs on others. We can, and should seek to persuade others. Those who say things like “the church should stay out of politics” get it wrong. Ask them to reflect on their reaction if the word “church” is changed to “women” or “migrants”? The church must stay out of party politics of course. But to demand that people of belief leave those very beliefs at the door is intolerant.
Hw much do we “render to Caesar” in our daily lives – and at what expense to what we should “render unto God”?