The Riches of Christ

Dear Friend,

The “coin of the realm” – the realm of Caesar – that shows up in this week’s Gospel marks a definite contrast with last week’s text from Saint Paul where “riches” of quite another sort were named the source of a disciple’s strength. The scene this week, though, includes a spotlight on Jesus’s quick wittedness, which leaves the crowd amazed at his verbal prowess. In other words, more’s going on than meets the eye, and yet what meets the eye (and ear) of those present is truly impressive.

What seems to be at play here is the contrast between the realm of Caesar and the realm – or “Kingdom” – of God. The religious leaders are hard at work testing Jesus, intending (hoping) to trap him into a conflict with Roman political authority. The strategy would possibly be to give them as religious leaders a way of enlisting Roman courts to get Jesus out of their way. As commentators note, Jesus “rises above” all this. 

The first reading from Isaiah also links with what we heard last week, as the prophet again shows history and our destiny as a matter completely in God’s hands. Last week Isaiah had “the hand of the Lord” resting on the mountain where an abundant feast was being set out for all to come and share. This week Isaiah has that same hand “grasping” the hand of King Cyrus.  

To get us to our destiny as God’s people, God does whatever is needed, even enlisting some unlikely people to get us into a place of freedom. In the kingdom of God freedom becomes the capacity to give and receive love and thereby to give God the glory. It’s a costly freedom, and while we give Caesar his due, we are fully supplied only by “the riches of Christ”.  

Gratefully,

Father Dan Lackie ofm, Pastor