6-Oct-2014
Dear Friend,
While we go about our daily lives, we often compartmentalize our lives. We
embrace one set of values for our homes, we live by another in our business
lives and profess yet another in our religious commitment. There can be moments
when these values clash and we have to make choices and preferences. Does God
have first place? Do we see ourselves as believers first? Today’s word
challenges us to make God first always. Have a discerning weekend! -Fr. Jude
Sunday Ref: 29th Sun “Needed balanced loyalties, But God always come first!”
19-Oct-2014
Readings: Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6; 1 Thes.1: 1- 5;
Mt. 22: 15-21;
In the first reading there is reference made to Cyrus the pagan king, whom the
Lord chose and used to fulfill his plans for his chosen people. "Cyrus is taken
by his right hand to subdue nations before him..., to force gateways before
him, that their gates be closed no more." God is always supreme king and holds
the destiny of the world in his hands though at times it might appear that
earthly powers are leading us astray. Earthly rulers, political regimes, Cyrus
or Caesar, are called by God to reveal something of His power and plan for the
human race. While we respect our leaders and observe their directives, we are
ultimately called to follow our God and listen to his voice and discern His
plan for us every day of our life.
Secular Messiahs
Dag Hammarskjold was Secretary-General of the UN. When he died in a plane crash
in central Africa in 1961 at the age of 66, the world lost a great servant of
peace. He was a rare person for whom public service was not simply a career or
means of achieving power, but a religious vocation, a way of being faithful to
God. He said: “Indifference to evil is worse than evil itself and in a free
society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.” –Gandhi is another example
of a deeply religious man who involved himself in politics. He said: “I am in
politics because I cannot separate life from belief. Because I believe in God I
have to enter politics. Politics is my service to God.” Nelson Mandela is yet
another example of how God uses all kinds of people, not necessarily religious,
to lead people to God. Mandela tells us how, when he began to get interested in
politics, a friend tried to warn him off saying, “Politics brings out the worst
in
people. It is the source of trouble and corruption, and should be avoided at
all costs.” Fortunately, for South Africa and the world, Mandela ignored his
advice.
Flor McCarthy in ‘New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies’
In today’s gospel the Pharisees bring the issue of paying taxes to the Romans
for Jesus’ opinion on the matter. “Is it permissible to pay taxes or not?” The
overt question is whether it is proper to pay taxes to the government, but
there is a hidden agenda that Jesus is well aware of. Whichever way Jesus
answered the question would trap him. If he said taxes had to be paid to Rome
the people would be against him and if he said the opposite he would be seen as
fomenting rebellion against the authorities. Jesus completely side steps the
issue by asking for a coin with which the taxes were to be paid. This coin bore
the image of Caesar and an inscription proclaiming his authority. Jesus simply
says, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”
Jesus is not entering into a discussion of the rights of the state and the
rights of religion; but on the occasion of the question he proposes a deeper
truth. What matters more
to Jesus than being under Caesar’s rule and paying taxes, is belonging to
God’s kingdom. Jesus is reminding his listeners of a deeper issue, that of
being people of God. If they belong to God then they have to give God his due.
God has to be the most important priority in their lives. What they owe to God
is far more important than what they owe to anyone else. It is easy to remember
what we owe to our fellow men but we can forget what we owe to God. The ideal
Christian is one who fulfils his duty both to his fellowmen and to God. Only
when there is a clash of interests do we have to remind ourselves that God
always comes first. Besides God, Christians have a duty towards their fellow
men. Christians should not shirk public office but see it as an opportunity to
serve their fellowmen.
I love my country but there is a higher authority, God!
Franz Jaggerstatter was born in Austria and was brought up a Catholic. He was
an ordinary, unremarkable young man, however at some stage he suddenly matured.
He became very responsible and began to take religion seriously. By this time
the Second World War was raging. At thirty-six he was called up to serve
Hitler’s army. He refused to join up. “I cannot join because I believe that
this war is not a just war. Therefore it would be wrong for me to join up. It
would be against my conscience.” He said. “But where’s your loyalty to your
people, to your country, to your flag?” his friends protested. “Franz replied,
“I love my people and I love my country. But there’s a higher law–God’s law.
And God’s law tells me that this war is wrong.” It wasn’t that he wanted to
die. He had a lot to live for -his family and friends. He was arrested and put
into prison. Then further efforts were made to get him to change his mind. Even
his wife
begged him to reconsider his decision. But all to no avail. Franz was beheaded
on August 9, 1943. He felt he was obeying the words of Christ: “Give to Caesar
what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
Flor McCarthy in ‘New Sunday & Holy day Liturgies’
It is hoped that our double citizenship of being citizens of two worlds, the
material and spiritual, never clash. If they ever do, the Christian must
resolve the conflict as St. Thomas More, the martyr did. King Henry VIII was
validly married to Catherine of Aragon. He appealed to Rome to annul the
marriage so he could marry Ann. Rome refused. Henry cut off allegiance to the
Pope and declared himself ‘The only supreme head of the Church of England.’ He
ordered his friends and officials to sign a document declaring that they agreed
he acted rightly. Many signed but Thomas More his friend and Lord Chancellor
refused. He was put in prison for 15 months and finally executed. His last
words were “I am the King’s good servant but God’s first.”
Anonymous
Doing your Duty!!
We all laugh at the reputed story of Pat Murray at the Battle of Trafalgar,
whose version of the Battle was as follows: “Lord Nelson came on deck and said
‘Is Pat Murray on board?’ And I said ‘Here I am, me Lord.’ Then said his
lordship, ‘Let the battle proceed.’ And yet, while this was written for a joke,
there is more to it than we are apt to think. For had it not been for the Pat
Murrays, or John Joneses or Tom Smiths and others who were on hand doing their
duty, there would have been no victories for the Nelsons, Wellingtons,
Napoleons or Grants, who now live in history as great commanders.
A.W. Graham in ‘More Quotes and Anecdotes’
Spiritual Foundations
The Great Wall of China was a gigantic structure, costing immense expenditure
and labour, and when finished it seemed a superb way to gain security; but
within a few years of its building it was breached three times by the enemy.
Only note, it was breached, not by breaking down the wall but by bribing the
gate-keepers. It was the human element that failed; what collapsed was
character, proving insufficient the task to make the great structure men had
built really work. A like fate awaits all those who, absorbed in political
tasks, forget the spiritual foundation.
Anthony P. Castle in ‘More Quotes and Anecdotes’
What will you give me?
There was once a prince and his family. When they were brought before him, King
Cyrus asked the captured prince: “What will you give me if I release you?”
“Half of my wealth.” “And if I release your children?” “Everything I possess.”
“And If I release your wife?” “Your majesty, I will give you myself.” Cyrus was
so greatly moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home
the prince said to his wife, “Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man!” With a look of deep
love for her husband, she said to him, “I didn’t notice. I could keep my eyes
only on you my husband–the one who was willing to give himself for me.”
John Pichapilly in ‘The Table of the Word’
Give back to God...
Theologian Jon Sobrino published a book “Spirituality of Liberation: Towards
Political Holiness.” A political holiness is what the church badly needs. I
sense that we have too much of ‘Church Politics’ and too little of a ‘political
Church.’ There’s politicking present in demands for ecclesiastical
appointments, but hardly any interest in burning issues facing society and the
Church. The current issue of granting concessions to Dalit-Christians (former
untouchables) in India is significant. Is this a political or a religious
question? I frame the question differently: “Is there anything which is not
political? Or anything which is not religious?” Evidently, everything belongs
to God. Let us give back to God even what belongs to Caesar!
Francis Gonsalves in ‘Sunday Seeds for Gospel Deeds’
May we enjoy being citizens of heaven and earth, but firstly God’s!
Fr. Jude Botelho
[email protected]
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my Web site
www.NetForLife.net Thank you.
