“Remember that you have only one soul; that you may have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and there is only one glory, which is eternal. If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing."
— St. Theresa of Avila
Sometimes in life we are caught in a “Catch-22” or a “no-win” situation where no matter what decision is made, it will win favor with some and displease others. The German theologian, Joachim Jeremias (1900-1979), said that 30% of people liked Jesus, his teachings and his message; 30% rejected him and were hostile to his life, his message and his teaching; and 40% were indifferent, feeling he was irrelevant.
On this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time we hear the familiar Gospel of Matthew 22: 15-21 where the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus and put him in a “squeeze,” asking him whether or not the Jews should pay taxes to the Roman conquerors. They asked his opinion, “Is it lawful to pay census tax to Caesar or not?” Jesus knew their malice-filled intent, calling them hypocrites, pretenders, actors and phonies. They handed him a Roman coin and tried to “trip him up.” But instead Jesus responded, “Whose image is on this, and whose inscription?” When they replied, “Caesar’s,” Jesus calmly told them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God, what belongs to God.” Jesus shows us that our ultimate allegiance is to trust in God. The role of the state is limited but God’s power is unlimited. One notes that Jesus allows them to make their own decision, leaving the choice up to them. So too are decisions and choices we make when faced with seemingly competing and vying allegiances.
There are many “little Caesars” in our modern world today in the form of parties, clubs, companies, characters, etc., that challenge us to give allegiance and support to them. They compete for a piece of our conscience seeking us out to compromise our morals and values in a world that disregards our Baptism imprint. We must remember to keep first things first. He must rule and reign. We must give Him proper due in our work, relationships and prayer. We must be loyal to Christ and the building up of the Kingdom of God.
On our currency is inscribed, “In God we trust.” The history of this motto goes back to the Civil War and serves as a helpful reminder that true security lies in God alone. Jesus advises us to return to the emperor the coin that bears his image, but return to God what bears His image. As Christians, embossed, printed and minted with Divine Grace, the image with which we are stamped, the image of God, is not merely “stamped on paper” or “branded on copper," but in the flesh.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2239 reminds us, “It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom... to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.” #2240 states, “It is morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote and to defend one’s country.” Thus we have dual citizenship, both on earth and in heaven.
Does the “almighty dollar” dominate our lives? Is being #1 most important? Perhaps we spend far too much time, energy and effort pursuing false trappings that don’t really bring lasting fulfillment. If we applied the same time, energy and effort into our spiritual lives, it would result in making God first each day!
It is with this in mind that in God’s golden days of mid-October, with the beauty of His creation surrounding me, that I take time for my annual priestly retreat at the Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center in Pulaski, PA. The retreat center lies between New Castle and Youngstown, OH. Our retreat master will be Fr. James McCloskey, C.S.Sp. He is the Vice President for Mission and Identity at Duquesne University and well-known for his leadership in retreat work. I will be there from Sunday, October 16 at 7:00 PM to Thursday, October 20. A retreat is “a re-turn to the Lord” where we re-discover, re-member, re-treat, re-lax, re-vitalize, re-commit, re-new, and re-joice, A retreat is a time to hear again the call of God in one’s life, to re-charge our batteries physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and socially. It includes community prayer, Mass, conferences, individual spiritual direction, and opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I thank my friend, Fr. John Jordan, who lives at the Cardinal Deardon Center for Retired Priests in Oakland, who will fill in for me while I am away. I am also grateful for Fr. James P. McDonough who will assist during the weekend. Fr. Jim serves as Defender of the Bond on the Marriage Tribunal at the Diocese of Pittsburgh. I hope to have time for solitude, reflection, spiritual reading, quiet time of prayer and meditation, running and enjoying the fall foliage. I hope to have time to give thanks for the ministry of priesthood which God has called me to by name. As God tells the anointed Persian Emperor, Cyrus, in Isaiah 45:4, “I have called you by your name.” Christians throughout history are “image-bearing coins” meaning that God’s coins are humans, since we bear God’s image. As Christians we are called to witness to the Gospel in all the areas of our lives to bring Christ to our world through our actions, choices, and words.
Fr. Alban Butler, priest and hagiographer (1710-1773), who wrote “The Lives of the Saints” published in the mid 1700’s, believed that by studying the lives of the saints and learning from their struggles, we are inspired to greater holiness in our own walk of life. “They were once what we are now, travelers on earth; they had the same weaknesses which we have. We have difficulties to encounter; so had the saints... The saints are a 'cloud of witnesses over our head;' showing us that a life of Christian perfection is not impossible.”
Psalm 116:12 states “How can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?” Thanksgiving is central to our Christian spirituality. We owe a debt of gratitude for God’s faithful love which can only be repaid in a two-sided coin — turning to God in thanksgiving, and doing for others God has done for us.
