A moment of contemplation for yourself or on behalf of others on everything from the life-altering to the mundane.


Prayer: A conversation with The Higher Other who lives within each of us. An invitation to vent, to re-think, to ask, and to rest.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Prayers of the People: The Other Side of the Coin, 20th Sunday after Pentecost '17 Yr A

for Sunday, October 22, 20th Sunday after Pentecost, Readings: Exodus 33:12-23, Psalm 99, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22

       The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.
[Exodus 33:17]

      O LORD our God, you answered them indeed; you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds. [Psalm 99:8]

     For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you...in every place your faith in God has become known...how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God... [1 Thess 1:8a, 9b]

     The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said...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." ...Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." [Matthew 22:15,18-21]

     Moses certainly has a lot to say to God this week. With an insistent tone, in a startling lesson in courage, he perseveres in his demands that require God to listen and respond - but, Moses also knows when to take a breath and wait for God's voice. We need to learn to speak to God in our own voices with our own words and say, ask, and even demand, and then, quietly, patiently, and, with an open heart, listen for how and when God chooses to answer.
       We are shown by Moses and then Paul reminds us to recognize and live into our deep relationship with God with 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 lesson from Jesus and Caesar's money is often lost much like the obscurity of an inside joke that only works when everyone "gets it". On the surface it seems like a teaching on the separation of Church and State but wait for it...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. Any good Pharisee would know that from the prohibitions in both Genesis and Exodus against graven images and divinity other than God's. While the coins were required in everyday life, 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. So the Pharisees' disciples 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' disciples were amazed because they suddenly knew the joke was on them. It has been suggested that perhaps, in his quietly subversive way, Jesus was hinting about a payback to Caesar - "Give Caesar what he deserves?"  We are called to give the currency of ourselves to God's purpose. We are the other side of the coin in God's pocket. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord, our God, because Moses asked, You gave Your presence and favor through him to us. We ask that You awaken our faith through each breath You give us, that we may serve You with joy, in the hope of Christ, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

                                                Holy God, Living and True
RESPONSE:             Renew our strength and courage

~ O Lord, our God, No matter what coin we render to political power, our greatest currency is we, ourselves, who are made in Your image. Let our actions, voices, and words in the houses of government in this World, in this Nation, and on the local streets and roads of our lives, always reflect Your graciousness and mercy.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Holy God, Living and True
                                                Renew our strength and courage
                                               
~ O Lord, our God, soothe and heal all who live in chronic pain, worry, and hopelessness, and rejuvenate those who give love and care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Holy God, Living and True
                                                Renew our strength and courage
           
~ O Lord, our God, our hearts are full of love and thanksgiving for all You have called home to glory and rejoicing in new life through Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                                                Holy God, Living and True
                                                Renew our strength and courage

~ O Lord, our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                Holy God, Living and True
                                                Renew our strength and courage

~ O Lord, our God, magnify Your presence in and through all who teach us Your Word, hear our needs, preside at the Eucharist, and whose life work is to walk with us toward You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  O God Most High, keep us close in Your holy heart, let us always be reminded 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 this through our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, who together with You, reign as One God now and forever.  Amen.



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