October 22, 2017

29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Deacon Kevin O'Boyle

Where are you from? How many times have you been asked that question? For many of you, that question is easy. You have lived in Hamilton or Trenton all your lives, and have histories going back to “the neighborhood” from many years ago. My own family are, like many others, transplants from North Jersey. And while we have lived here for over 27 years, we can’t share that special bond of those who have lived here all their lives. We have our own memories of where we grew up – where our families were from. All of us probably share similar memories.
 
Our readings today look closely at where we are from—and what that means. They speak of skills our origins leave us with—and duties they demand. We learn that every Christian has a dual citizenship—and how we are called to respond to it.
 
In our first reading today, we hear from Deutero-Isaiah -the second of three parts of the book generally attributed to an anonymous poet writing around the end of the Babylonian exile. Events in Isaiah generally take place around the 8^th century BC. Here we see the vision of the powerful conquering God -one who will help restore Israel after the exile. It is an image of faithfulness and power—attributes we should remember as we look toward our theme this Sunday.
 
In our second reading, we hear Paul praise the work of the Church of Thessalonia. He praises them for their work of faith, labor of love and endurance in hope—one of the earliest references to the three theological virtues in which each of us are favored as an aid to knowing our God. He recalls how God chose them for their work. How they imitated Christ in their suffering for the Word and how they received the Gospel with power and the Holy Spirit.  Thus, this reading reminds us of the tools of our Christian citizenship. From the strengths of Faith, Hope and Love, to the power of discernment through the Holy Spirit.
 
Finally, our Gospel finds Jesus turning the Pharisees trap into a lesson and a challenge. We each have dual citizenship—we are to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s but to God what is God’s.
 
Most of us are taught what it means to be a good US citizen—to vote, to pay taxes, to obey the laws. These are duties and responsibilities through which a democracy thrives. Our Christian Citizenship is not of this world—but certainly calls on us to direct our worldly actions. We are called to influence the way we live our daily lives with the Christian morals and values we are taught. Respect for life, for the poor, for the homeless, for the visitor—all of these are duties we are called upon. And just because they are Christian duties does not mean we forget about them in the way we carry out our civil citizenship. We should not fall trap to political correctness that says certain moral obligations are important to us as Christians—but we should not hold others to them.
 
The root of our moral teachings is in Jesus Himself, or in the Church He left behind to guide us. Our respect for different groups is right because it is right, not simply because of who we are. When we support the immigrant or the unborn these are not just our values—they are human values. We should never hesitate to support these in the public square just because others do not and we might offend.
 
In a couple of weeks, we will have some local elections. It is important in this and every election to bring our Christian citizenship with us and the moral values it upholds. Like every good citizen we should do our best to be informed and vote our conscience.
 
Each of us comes from somewhere on earth. That was important in building who we are. But each of us strives to go to the same place in eternity—to where our heavenly citizenship is fulfilled. It is important that we remember that in the way we act each day in caring for others. Something to think about this week. God Bless.