Sermon, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Nov 13, 2011

22^nd Sunday after Pentecost – November 13, 2011

(Epistle: Philippians 1: 6-11) - (Gospel: Matthew 22: 15-21)

“Whose image and inscription is this?”

Jesus put the pride and hypocrisy of the Pharisees to shame, and he fearlessly censured the immorality of the Herodians. Herodians were those Jews who followed the Romans, and though the two groups were bitter political enemies, they worked together on this day to destroy Christ.

They put this cunning questions before our Lord, “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not.” The aim of the Pharisees in asking the question was to force Christ into a situation where the Herodians would arrest Him if He said it is not lawful to pay tribute, and if He answered yes, it is lawful, then He would face being abandoned by the multitudes who followed Him.

Well, if you want to arm wrestle with God you’re going to lose.  Jesus responds to the Pharisees, “Why do you tempt me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin of the tribute.” When they show him one of their coins, note that Jesus does not say, “This is Caesar’s image.” Instead, He asks the Pharisees whose image it is. “Caesar’s,” they said, and by saying that they acknowledge that they are Caesar’s subjects.  Now their trap is defeated, and now the truth can be taught to them. Jesus tells them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” After this they simply walked away. This is also the first principle of all governments. When this principle is denied by either Church or government you will see a country that is dying.

 “Let us make man to our own image and likeness!” (  Genesis 1: 20) We are not gods, we are creatures, but creatures in the likeness of God. Animals are creatures, but not having reason, they are not in the likeness of God. We have reason which tells us it is right to give to the poor, and we have a will which can say no to this compassion. An animal cannot do that. We have reason and must perceive the truth and reject lies. We have will power, and with that we must choose to love and to do good. Our natural likeness to God through reason is often disfigured and even destroyed by man when he lies or doesn’t even care to inquire after Truth. Many hate truth because truth is severe and demands that we conquer ourselves and curb our passions. Jesus told us this: “For everyone that doeth evil, hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved (criticized).” (John 3: 20)

We also sin against our likeness to God through reason when we do not seek knowledge of what is necessary in our calling. Parents commit this sin when they fail to instruct their children in the one, true faith, and children commit this sin when they do not attend school properly. Christians who destroy reason or limit its activity commit this sin. Drunkards are in this category because when drunk they no longer know what they are doing. Those who live impure lives also sin against reason because one of the effects of impurity is a dullness of reason. St. Paul warned against this: “The sensual man perceives not the things that are of the spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2: 14)

“The powers of our will, the second feature of our likeness to God, are also misused and destroyed by sin.” Neither all the kings on earth nor all the devils in hell can compel us to do something against our will. But giving in to passion weakens the will. With every sin we commit, the power of evil increases in us, and the weakness of our will increases at the same time. When a person gives himself over to sin he finally says, “I cannot help it. This is my nature.” But this is not true. We can stop sinning if we will to stop, with the help of God. We get this help through prayer. When sinful men do not pray they have no determination of will, and they live on in their sins. Their hearts become hardened and they carry on an unremitting war against Truth. Their main weapons are lies and calumny, which is slander and defamation of character. With these weapons they smear everything that is good and reverent to God.

Such people can be found in all walks of life: in the commercial and laboring classes, where they, like Judas, sell their faith and conscience for pieces of silver; they are found among those who are too lazy to work for a living, finding it easier to beg; and among the rich, to whom money is their god and whose only thoughts are about business and amusement. “In all such people the will is diseased and corrupted. They crave for sin; they love sin and they die in sin.” This is what comes from a perversion of reason and will.

Such people also lack sanctifying grace in their souls, which is to say they lack the supernatural image of God. They don’t care that they live in mortal sin (that grievous sin that will send us to hell). They live on in this state year after year, piling sin upon sin, never thinking of confession, forgiveness and penance. If they do confess, it is not probing or sincere. They illustrate our Lord’s own words: “Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is made worse that the first.” (Matthew 12: 45) Such people avoid the Word of God because it disturbs their life of sin. How can such souls be the image of God? They are in fact the image of someone else. Teaching in the temple one day, Jesus described whose image they reflect: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do.” (John 8: 44)

We find today a great deal of humanity filled with hatred toward God, toward Jesus Christ and toward His One True Church. “The consequences of this hatred are rebellion against lawful authority. . . All that is right is despised and stamped under foot, while [political power] gains the upper hand over right.” These people are not satisfied with their own separation from
God, they also try to ruin many others and destroy their happiness in time and in eternity.

There is salvation in only one thing: “Give unto God the things that are God’s.” Be obedient to all that Jesus told us to do. Be obedient to His Church, which guides us through life and dispenses His forgiveness and grace through the Sacraments. You are God’s creation and God’s property. Then give to Him your reason, your heart and your will. Use them only for God and you will be His property for all eternity, as children of His grace and charity. Amen. +++

We Celebrate the Tridentine Latin Mass