Walking on the Edge

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

In the Bible, Cyrus of Persia is credited with ending the Babylonian  exile. Yet Isaiah is careful to note that Cyrus, unknowingly, is an agent of the God of Israel, who is using him to defeat Babylon and  restore the Chosen People to their land. This is why Cyrus is called  here the Lord’s “anointed” (Messiah). Cyrus might be expected  to believe that one of his own national gods was responsible for  assuring his victories, but this is not the case. In fact, God insists,  there are no other gods. The larger implication is that the sovereign  reach of God extends well beyond Israel to include all of earth’s  rulers, most of whom do not even know this God (yet). 

When Paul left Thessalonica his companions Timothy and Silvanus stayed behind, joining him later in Corinth with a report  of conditions in the northern city. The good report prompts  Paul’s thanksgiving. Throughout the letter Paul will attend to the  question of Christ’s return, a theme signaled here by the reference  to “endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The basis for their  faith, love, and hope is the gospel, whose truth was made evident  in power. Evidently the Thessalonians had experienced something  that allowed them to believe the gospel was more than just another  philosophy or religious system. The truth of the gospel was made  evident to them, in some way, by its fruits. 

The trap set for Jesus places him in a bind. If he refuses to pay the  Roman tax, he’s a rebel. If he pays the tax too eagerly, some would consider him a traitor to his people. Jesus cleverly avoids the trap  by contrasting the image of Caesar with the image of God. The coin is stamped with the image of Caesar; humans are stamped with the image of God (Genesis 1:27; 9:6). The coin belongs to Caesar, so it’s  just a piece of metal; if he wants his coin back, give it to him. Jesus  is far more concerned about making sure that God gets back what  belongs to God; that is what Jesus’ mission is about.

Living the Word logo

Copyright © 2021, 2020, 2019, 2012, 2011, 2010 World Library Publications, a div. of GIA Publications, Inc. www.giamusic.com
All rights reserved. Used by permission.