The Pharisees and Sadducees are often portrayed as these rigid adversaries in the Gospel passages. They are greatly offended and bothered by Jesus and hope that he will simply go away. But their question today is a larger question which still gnaws at us today. Who do we belong to? The is a liturgical adage which states we pray what we believe. The same can be said of our spending, desires, and focus throughout life.
To be sure even St. Paul recognizes that as a matter of good citizenship we have to live within the confines of our national laws and obligations. But besides that do we live a counter-cultural life so as to be living witnesses of what we have seen and heard in Jesus Christ. Even the Apostles have a difficulty in this matter as vie for position in the Kingdom of God, and seek to destroy those who disrespect them. Sometimes the kingdom of Caesar can be so enchanting and alluring that we begin to dream of wealth, power, fame, and glory.
Jesus demonstrates his Father's Kingdom as he heals, has compassion, feeds, and nourishes, those whom he comes in contact with. Jesus' position of power is hanging from the cross. Serving God and serving one another are the hallmarks of our Christian lifestyle. Stewardship tells us that being a disciples means that we receive God's gifts with joy, nurture those gifts, share them in love and justice, and return them with increase to our God. This is the way that we unfold the Kingdom of God and pronounce the good news.
The choice in our life comes down to which Kingdom we wish to follow. The Kingdom of God has those often unseen values of justice, peace, mercy and love, which last forever. Caesar's Kingdom shows up on Nasdaq, but will always leave us empty and wanting for more. Hopefully we can embrace the Kingdom which offers happiness, light, and peace.
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