The
content of the first reading may seem clear but its meaning does not
lead to easy understanding. The prophet Isaiah holds that God needed
the services of king Cyrus of Persia in order to realise his design, the
liberation of his people, Israel. The elected people were in exile in
Babylon (around 1500 B.C) when Cyrus defeated the Babylonians and
liberated the people of Israel, thereby manifesting his astuteness in
political issues. He did not liberate them out of his magnanimity or
humanitarian considerations, but he did this hoping to dominate them the
more by sending them back to their fatherland than retaining them in
their place of exile. However, the point this passage wants to show is
that, though king Cyrus was a pagan king God, nevertheless, used him as
an instrument
in realising his project of liberating his people from slavery. One
concludes thus:
- (a) God can use every body, not only the believers, but also non believers to realise his plans. He will even use us more if we are docile and disposed to the insinuations of his graces;
- (b) We should not read history or events of life from the human point of view only. In all events there is always God’s hand works and also divine Providence that guides and governs.
In the gospel reading we have the famous statement from Jesus: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Jesus
made use of this terse sentence that all the Synoptics recorded to
respond to those who wanted to trap him with the question: Is it allowed to pay tax to Caesar or not? This
looked like a genuine question but in reality was a snare. For if Jesus
had answered that it was legitimate to pay tax to Caesar, he would have
been reckoned among the friends of the Romans and he would have
incurred the anger of the Jews. On the other hand, if he had responded
that it was not proper he would have appeared subversive to the ruling
foreigners from Rome and would have fallen into the hands of the Roman
soldiers. Jesus’ answer was a clever ruse to escape the pitfalls. His
answer, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s means: if you accept the
services of Caesar then pay the tax. Thus, every Christian should know
that he/she has some precise rights and duties towards the state. He
should also be aware that he/she has the rights to ask for certain
services for his accommodation, work, health, justice etc. He has also
the duty to make
his/her contribution to the state by his/her honesty, dedication to
duty, even contributing money by paying his/her taxes. However, Jesus
also added: give to God what is God’s. Besides and above the
duties to the state, we have also the duties towards God, the unique
Absolute. The state cannot function in an absolute manner. If the state
passes a law that is contrary to the law of God, or does something that
is unjust, the Christian should courageously like the apostle declare: it is better to obey God, than to obey people (5,29).
In
the second reading, the apostle Paul warmly appreciates the Christians
of Thessalonica and praises them for their effort in living the faith,
charitable work and for the
hope they steadily reposed in God. The active exercise of these three
theological virtues shows that the Holy Spirit is actively working in
their midst. This eulogy of Paul of the Christians of Thessalonica
should be addressed to every Christian community, indeed to every
Christian that is every one of us. The question is: Do we merit it? Paul writing to the Philippians exhorts them: Shine like stars in the world, hold high the world of life. May
we therefore, also shine like stars in the world, irradiating the light
of the gospel in the measure we are truly committed to the life of
faith, works of charity and constant in faith of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Happy Sunday!
+John I. Okoye
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