New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 24: Year A
1st Thessalonians 1:1 to 10; Matthew 22:15 to 22
“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” (Matthew 22:17)
Back in the days of antiquity the tax was needed to pay the wages of Roman troops as well as Roman government workers. The same is true today for all governments, including our own United States government. Caring for the poor used to be the primary work of the Church. And, the Church still does. But now it is the responsibility of all governments to care for their citizens, in particular those who cannot take care of themselves, like mothers with children and the elderly and the infirmed. And yet, there will be people “gaming the system.” I believe it is better to lose some money to fraud than to neglect those in real need. The tax takes care of the needy and provides the needed services we all need. God however, takes care of everybody, the great and the small, including those who game the system.
As is always, Jesus is correct, no surprise there. Our lives are both horizontal and vertical. We must be in relationship with one another (horizontal) and in relationship with God (vertical). With the love that God blesses us with we care for one another be it physical or emotional assistance, or the tax. We also keep relationship with God, but all God wants is our love.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 