29th Sunday, Ordinary Time

 


TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME 


This weekend it’s all about giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and furthermore giving to God what belongs to God (Matt. 22:21). How do we categorize what all belongs to God? How do you even begin, given that the heavens belong to the Lord, the earth belongs to the Lord, and everything occupying the earth belongs to the Lord (see Deut. 10:14 & Ps. 89:12)? Perhaps we can begin by acknowledging the Lord’s pursuit of the Jews. He makes an explicit effort to form a covenant with them (see Ex. 34). They will become known as God’s “chosen people” (see 1st Chron. 16:13) as the Old Testament continues to present itself. 


Proceeding into the New Testament, we hear something about a new covenant, a covenant that takes shape “in the fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4). This new covenant will be an unrestricted covenant. In other words, it outlines the love of God being extended beyond the Jewish population, to now include the Gentile population. People like Cyrus will qualify (a figure being celebrated in our first reading, Isaiah chapter 45). Additionally the people of Thessalonica will qualify (featured in our second reading, 1st Thess. 1). Therefore, if the Jews belong to God, and  if the Gentiles belong to God, then it stands to reason that each member of the human family in fact belongs to God. 


What belongs to God should in turn be given to God, according to Jesus. By extension, we need to consider whether or not we have sufficiently given ourselves to the Lord? We belong to God. But how do we formally become his possession? Is he going to reach out aggressively? Can we expect to be taken, forcefully? Are we going to be abducted, as Maid Marion finds herself being abducted by the Sheriff of Nottingham? She will never give herself freely to the Sheriff. He has to apply the use of force. This measure will lead to the launching of a countermeasure by the hero of the story, Robin Hood. 


He likewise has strong feelings for Maid Marion. And yet, he has no intention of forcing the issue. Similarly, God has strong feelings for each and every one of you. But he allows you to follow the course of your own free will. You could say that God is taking the Robin Hood approach. For his part, Robin Hood displays a number of impressive qualities. Maid Marion doesn’t have to be forced. She is drawn to Robin Hood; she gives herself freely to him in the end. If we can ascribe a certain number of qualities to Robin Hood, then we can go infinitely further with the God of the Bible. Rather than ascribe qualities to God, we make the case that God literally encompasses every quality on the spectrum. 


So if Robin Hood represents “a” source of attraction, God would in turn rank as THE source who underlines every other source. You commit to him by giving yourself to him—freely and completely. It might develop into a process, something that unfolds with the passing of time. And as the process continues to unfold, it becomes clear: you’re doing a favor for yourself. It’s not you doing the Lord a favor; instead, you’ll be doing yourself the ultimate favor. 

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