We are in the early
part of what is known as Second Isaiah now. The Book of Isaiah, according to
scholars ancient and modern, begins with Chapters 1-39 and are attributed, for
the most part, to a man known as the Prophet Isaiah. As with other Old/Hebrew
Testament Books under individual names, the oracles and sayings have been
arranged in an order that pleases those who edited them, that is, not
necessarily chronologically or direct quotes. The words themselves may be in
part from the individual or from a compilation of what was said about or, as
one commentary says, in the tradition of , insofar as what he might
likely have said or written. The early chapters of Isaiah were probably written
beginning in the year 740 BCE [Before the Common Era which replaces BC, before
Christ] when Jerusalem was still standing. Second Isaiah, whoever he may
have been, wrote what is essentially noted to be Chapters 40-55, at least 100
years later, in the mid-sixth century as we count down to the Year 1 CE [Common
Era which replaces the AD from the Latin Anno Domini, or after Christ].
So, what is happening here is that the Persian King Cyrus is nearly ready to
release the captives from the Assyrian destruction of Jerusalem. The Assyrians
are long gone, the original captives are also gone from life, except for their
children now parents or even grandparents but who know the stories of their
homeland and their God. What we’re hearing in the words of this newer Isaiah is
God saying the punishment that triggered their captivity is nearly over and God
is explaining what he has done by anointing Cyrus to subdue nations. Now God will
open the doors so that you will know that it is I, the Lord the God of Israel who call you by
your name. And while Cyrus knows
little or nothing about the Hebrew God, he is still doing God’s work by
allowing the exiles of Judah to return home. This is also reflected in the joy
of the Psalm. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ishmael is at work as one
God of the WHOLE Earth, as WE are part of today. We ~ Christians, Muslims, and
Jews ~ are ALL Children of Abraham. And just to finish a thought, Third Isaiah will
come along in Chapters 56-66, a few decades later.
Paul, in his joint letter to the
Thessalonians with Sylvanus and Timothy, is reminding us through them to
recognize and live into our deep relationship with God with our trust and
faith, to feel the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Each breath we take
comes from God and that awareness gives us the willingness, however tentative
at times, to begin to act upon it. The more we are conscious of
living our faith, the more faith grows, and our prayer and action become a
truer reflection of the image of God that we already are.
The subtle twist in the Gospel lesson of Jesus and Caesar's
money is often lost, much like the obscurity of an inside joke that only works
when everyone "gets it." Remembering that this passage takes place
just after the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to cheers
and high excitement, provides a heightened sense of tension in this week of
weeks in Christ’s brief human experience. We already know what is ahead in the
few short days beyond. On the surface, this seemingly casual exchange appears
as a teaching on the separation of Church and State but wait… As so very often
happens, Jesus is turning the tables on those almost-smart-enough Pharisees.
Instead of falling into their trap, he caught them in his. The coin with
the Emperor Caesar's image also contained an inscription that proclaimed the divinity of
Caesar. While the coin was the mandatory currency by the occupying Romans, for
the Jews the image alone was clearly as blasphemous as the inscription
regarding divinity. All Pharisees would know that from the prohibitions in
both Genesis and Exodus against graven images and proclamations of divinity
other than the God of Abraham. While the coins were required in everyday life,
especially for paying Roman taxes, anyone on Temple grounds with such a coin in
his pocket would be guilty of the very serious offense of
blasphemy. That's why there were money changers at the Temple to exchange
Roman money for an acceptable coin for Jewish offerings, coins that contained
no human or animal images. The Pharisees' followers were expecting Jesus
to uphold the coin, perhaps even on Temple grounds, and then they could
proclaim him as a blasphemer. No such luck. When Jesus tosses off the
"Give therefore to the Emperor the things that are the emperor's, and
to God the things that are God's," the Pharisees' followers were
amazed because they suddenly knew the irony and that the not-funny-joke
was on them."
We are each individually created in the image of
God and we are each called to give the currency of our selves to God's
purpose. We might not feel that we are able to worship the Lord in the beauty of [our own] holiness. However,
if we sincerely want to increase our faith and our intentions to improve our
faithfulness, we can find a variety of ways to remind ourselves of the ways to
live into those intentions each day. Set reminders on your phone, or sticky
notes with a shorthand message on the dashboard of the car, or fridge, and/or
bathroom mirror such as SaP ~ say a prayer; or ToJ ~ think of Jesus; or
BITL ~ Breathe in the Light. Write them on your calendar for each day.
Give time, some money, food, clothing, or find other ways, that you can give to
organizations you trust to do God’s work. Let’s each move from what we plan to
do, what we think we’ll do, and what we mean to do, to what we actually do. Making
a new and positive habit requires flipping our own tables spiritually and
mindfully to begin to offer God what God deserves.
Someone somewhere suggested that when someone else asks the question, "What Would Jesus Do? One answer might be, "Flipping the tables isn't out of the question!"
*The word weal is not a typo which was my first thought. Not a modern word,
it’s definition is: 1. Prosperity; happiness. "in weal and woe." 2.The
welfare of the community; the general good. "the public weal," a sound, healthy, or prosperous state: well-being
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord our God, we humbly ask You to re-awaken
our faith through every breath You give us, to hear You call us by name and feel
Your presence in the light and in the darkness. Keep us moving toward You always, that we may
serve You with joy, in the hope of Christ, by the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit.
Holy
God, Living and True
Strengthen
our faith and our intentions
~ O Lord our God, no matter what coin we
render to political power, our greatest currency is ourselves, who are made in
Your image. Guide our actions, voices, and words in the houses of government in
this Nation, in this World, and on the local streets and roads of our lives, to
always reflect Your graciousness, forgiveness, and mercy. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Holy God, Living and True
Strengthen
our faith and our intentions
~ O Lord our God, soothe and heal all who
live in worry, hopelessness, and constant physical or emotional pain, and rejuvenate those who give them love and
care. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your
own petitions
Holy God, Living and True
Strengthen
our faith and our intentions
~ O Lord our God, our hearts are full of love
and thanksgiving for the lives of those You have called home to glory, who
are now rejoicing in a glorious new life through Christ. We pray
especially for… add your own petitions
Holy God, Living and True
Strengthen
our faith and our intentions
~ O Lord our God, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
Holy God, Living and True
Strengthen
our faith and our intentions
~ O Lord our God, magnify Your presence in
and through all who teach us Your Word, guide our Worship, hear our needs,
and whose life work is to walk with us toward You. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
Holy
God, Living and True
Strengthen
our faith and our intentions
The
Celebrant adds: O
God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ishmael, keep us close in Your holy heart to remind
us of Your constancy, to ask often for Your favor, and to be conscious of how
to serve You in every moment of this brief and mortal life. We ask through
our Savior, Jesus the Christ; and the soul-filling Power of the Holy Spirit;
who together with You, reign as One God now and forever. Amen.
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