Trick questions are always…tricky. Some are amusing or thought provoking; What’s another word for Thesaurus? Why doesn’t glue stick to its bottle? A definitive trick question however is drawn from cunning and intends to deceive or trap. It is with that intention that religious rulers who are plotting to kill Jesus ask him a trick question; “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?” If Jesus says, “Yes.” he will be branded a traitor to the people for being in collusion with their Roman military oppressors. If he says, ‘No.” he will be marked an insurrectionist, arrested, and executed.
Jesus is a radical whose response refutes trickery in favor of wisdom. His response begins by asking for the coin used to pay taxes. He thus reveals the obliging questioners as already in collusion since they possess the Caesar imprinted coin. He furthermore demotes Caesar from his status as a god by contrasting Caesar with God. Peacemakers are presented a challenge – what are we to do about empire’s violent religion of Militarism that is maintained by taxes? Some taxes are of less concern being a fee for use, such as gas taxes paying for roads, national parks having entrance fees, and postage stamps paying for that service. Some people might regard federal income tax as a fee for use. For example they fund courts and resources in the Departments of Justice and Energy. These examples too are of concern though as they are elements in the federal income tax system. That tax system maintains empire’s violent values and practices. Federal income tax was instituted and continues to exist for the purpose of funding war. U.S. rulers levied the tax as they needed it for their wars until officials made doing so permanent in 1913 with the 16th Amendment. In the 2018 budget 57% of federal income tax revenue goes directly to the military. Additional taxes go indirectly to the military. For example, taxes go through the aforementioned Departments of Justice (for border police) and Energy (for nuclear weaponry). With the U.S. federal income tax revenue U.S. rulers have been terrorizing and killing people across the world. That terror and killing also happens through the U.S. Empire’s violence of inhumane levels of poverty and hunger.
Some people decide to not pay any federal income tax. It can have repercussions but as it is done in conscience the repercussions can be diminished. Rulers’ attempts to extract war taxes from conscientious peacemakers usually produces negative publicity for the I.R.S. Some people decide to withhold a portion. They usually inform the I.R.S. of their conscientious decision to withhold. (e.g. 57%). This can also have repercussions but minimally so, especially if the money is instead given to peaceful, loving, and life giving communities and activities. These may seem taxing decisions. They are more truthfully radical decisions.
Prayer: Spirit, may we give our energy and resources to peacemaking.
Question: How can I help the falling U.S. Empire dissolve peacefully?
October 22, 2017 Gospel Matthew 22:15-21 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time