Sunday, 19 October 2014

29th Sunday of Year A (Isaiah 45,1.4-6; 1 Thess 1,1-4; Matt 22,15-21: )


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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