Bigger Fish to Fry

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

A windy fall day is upon us which will undoubtedly remove many of the colored leaves that still cling to branches. Well, I suppose I should start thinking about getting the snow shovels ready…

The core of God’s message to us in today’s lectionary readings rests in Jesus’ response to the question he was asked that was designed to trap him: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:17)

An affirmative answer would have put him in trouble with the Jewish leaders (more than he was already). A negative answer would have put him in trouble with the Romans. What could he do to solve this dilemma? He took the issue to a higher level; to a truer perspective. And he did this by simply responding, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.

Often, the answer to a problem we face can not be found in the details before us. It may appear that our choices are limited and none of them are good – pay the taxes to Caesar or not; choose this or that; go left or right. When faced with this situation, take the lead from Our Teacher. Bring God into the mix. This will instantly change the focus and creates new values in our options. Yes, pay the tax that is due Caesar, but also remember who has more power than Caesar.

There are much bigger things in life than what we owe “Caesar.” We have “bigger fish to fry” as they say here in the Great Lakes area. We have hearts to win over for Christ, including our own. To do this takes committing our lives to Christ, and not committing them to some present-day Caesar (any of our present-day gods of power, riches, magic, etc.).

To what are we committing to? A little later in Matthew 22 we are reminded of the Great Commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself.

And how can we do this? To maintain connection with God through prayer – prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, petition, and listening. To be present to the world around us; to be present to each moment of the day as it passes in front of us. And to serve others as the situation calls to us, moment by moment, in our own unique way, the way God created each person individually. No gesture is too small.

Do all this, and the Caesars will vanish.

Please reflect on Matthew 22 this week and let me know what you see.

God’s peace and love to all!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG