The ‘Chosen People’ of ancient Israel, captured by Babylon, dreamed of rebuilding their empire. When Persia’s King Cyrus defeated Babylon, he helped the Chosen people realize that dream. The people therefore acclaim Cyrus as an agent of Yahweh, “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus.” “It is I who arm you, though you know me not.” The ‘Chosen People’ of Jesus’ era, the Herodians, with Rome’s help, also dream of rebuilding their empire and therefore acclaim Caesar. Since in the midst of this Jesus is establishing the Community of God on earth that marks the end of empire, the Herodians do not acclaim Jesus. They plot to harm Jesus and have a hand in murdering him. As part of their plot, the Herodians ask Jesus a question, “Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar or not?” The Herodians think they’ve trapped Jesus in empire and its values. Whether Jesus says “Yes” or “No,” he will be judged in reference to an empire, Rome’s or Israel’s. But Jesus is free of empire and its God, and free for the Community of God on earth that replaces it all. Jesus therefore rejects the “Yes,” or “No” trap. Instead, he asks for “the coin that pays the tax.” The Herodians hand over the Roman coin to which Jesus asks, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They reply “Caesar’s.” The Herodians prove it is they who are trapped in empire. They possess the coin whose image they bear, the false God Caesar Tiberius.
‘Chosen People’ of our era include white evangelicals. They dream of rebuilding their U.S. Empire. U.S. King Donald has defeated their multicultural liberal enemies and furthered their dream of rebuilding their white supremacist empire. Donald is believed an agent of Yahweh, a modern-day Cyrus, ‘It is the Lord who arms you Donald, though you know me not.’ For Donald’s help in rebuilding their U.S. Empire white evangelicals acclaim him a great leader. White evangelicals do not acclaim Jesus as a great leader. Like the Herodians, white evangelicals know the peacemaker Jesus does not enable them to rebuild their U.S. Empire. Also like the Herodians, white evangelicals plot to do harm to Jesus and the Community of God. They thus tend to like question-answer traps; ‘Is it lawful to kill black men or do you want white suburban housewives raped in their neighborhoods?’ (As if rape is not a crime committed by men – of all colors) Is it lawful to separate families and cage immigrant children or do you want foreign criminals roaming the streets? (As if other people we judge as foreigners do not bear the image of God). Is it lawful to suppress the vote and enable interference in an election or do you want socialists and communists taking over our country? (As if empire is not taking over our conscience.). Peacemakers can speak the truth about male crime, dehumanization, and conscience as well as policing, immigration, elections, and more. Like Jesus, current peacemakers know something evil/adversarial is being plotted by modern day Herodians, white evangelicals. Like their ancestors were telling Jesus, they too are telling us – we will harm you. We will have a hand in your murder and we will rebuild our empire on your graves. Like the Herodians, white evangelicals are possessed, bearing in their behavior the image of a false God, Caesar Trump. We can repeat Jesus’ reply, ‘Why are you testing us, you hypocrites?’ ‘The image you bear is Caesar’s.’
“Cowardice asks the question – is it safe? Expediency asks the question – is it politic? Vanity asks the question – is it popular? But conscience asks the question – is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)
Prayer: Spirit, help me give witness to Courage.
Question: To whom do I belong?
October 18, 2020 Gospel Matthew 22:15-21 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time