The Name of The Game

A Reflection on the Gospel for October 18th, 2020:
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Matthew
22.15-21

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”

But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.

Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

There is a part of me that really enjoys the black and white. I prefer certainty over uncertainty, and I like it when there is a right and a wrong. It just makes my life easier, and something inside me just wants my life to be easier. We all know, however, that nothing is certain, and that life is most definitely not easy. So, I have come to understand that where I seek certainty is important! 

The Pharisees and the Herodians are trying to back Jesus into a corner, prove Him wrong, catch Him in a mistake. They don’t like what He represents, they don’t believe in Him. They believe it is their job to bring Him down, because He represents a great personal cost to them. They seek certainty in their condemnation of Him.

Jesus gives them, and us, the brilliant choice: "Give therefore to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." (Matthew 22:21) But as we know, all things come from God and belong to God, so it is up to us to decide how we sort that out. Our first allegiance must be to God, and under this allegiance, we are forced to make a decision: “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).

There have been many times in my life where I have been certain in my condemnation of people and situations. The more I endeavour to grow closer to God, the more obvious it becomes to me that certainty is not the name of the game. Especially in relational terms, there are some things that matter more than my opinion — when someone does not perform or behave the way I think they should, it is my job to recognize not their failings but their heart, which belongs to God just as much as mine does. Whether we know it or not, we all seek the same thing, and that is Love.  

Unfortunately, this certainty still does not always result in certainty in my life. Operating under this worldview means I need to be sensitive to the needs of others, whether I agree with them or not. This doesn’t mean that truths, standards, and expectations should not be upheld, but in my experience, attention to people’s hearts is what makes all the difference in that regard. I’ve come to believe that discernment in the Spirit is the name of the game; not always convenient, and not always certain, but always more fruitful.




Lindsay Elford
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