Big themes

There are some big theological themes at play into today’s readings. They should give us cause to pause and wonder at their implications for us in this week of prayer for world peace.
 

The reading from Exodus displays Moses angst and insecurity. It is not enough that he is known by God. For him to continue he needs to know God. Interestingly these stories about knowing God are set in the midst of laws describing the tabernacle, the priesthood and their paraphernalia, and laws describing the accompanying ritual life – all of which symbolise the presence of God among the people. For Moses, this was not enough. He needed something more direct; he needed to see God’s glory. In God’s response we are invited into the mystery and uncertainty of God. We are invited in this story to take note of our own longings for God. Are we like Moses? Do we long for something else from God? Or are we content? When have we been certain of God’s presence in your life?  When have we been caught in the mystery of God? Where do we see the glory of God in our world?

The gospel reading is a well-known story, one that has led Christians over the centuries to declare that religion and politics do not mix, nor should economics and faith. But we would do well to remember Matthew 6:24 and Jesus warning against divided loyalties before we take this line. As we read this story we should keep in mind that the Pharisees and Herodians despised each other. For them to have a common approach to Jesus is startling. These are members of the Jerusalem elite working together to remove a problem. Their question is a good question, veiled in flattery. Jesus will be in serious trouble however he answers, either with the crowd who hate the Romans and their taxes, or with the Romans themselves – the Herodians are hoping they can dob him in – they are the collaborators. Jesus response seems simple and clever, and yet is filled with layers that we too often miss, layers of idolatry, of whose image we bear, and most importantly, what exactly is God’s, and what might rightly be called Caesars?