Scripture:One of the Pharisees, a lawyer, asked Jesus a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ”This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matthew 22. 23-40) Reflection:The questioner, a Pharisee and a lawyer, is an expert on all things religious and legal. The Jewish faith is founded upon the Law of Moses and the teaching of the Prophets, and nobody is better versed in them than this man. He knows all the answers. But Love? For him this is unknown territory. We don’t have to be sophisticated theologians or lawyers to follow the teaching and example of Jesus. We are called to offer back to God in love all that he has given us, our varying physical and mental abilities, using all that we have, all that we are, in our love and care for others, in His name. Lord, help us to show forth your love not only with our lips but in our lives. AmenRevd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen
Scripture:Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ 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.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ 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.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. (Matthew 22 15-22)Reflection:‘Who’s head is this, and whose title?’ What a brilliant question Jesus asks - it immediately silenced those who were hoping to trap him. More than that, it enabled Jesus to assert the sovereignty of God over all things while appearing superficially to support the emperor. But there is another level to what Jesus says, though. An unspoken message being conveyed. Caesar’s head is that of a human being. Human beings, as Jesus’ hearers were well aware, are made in the image of God. So, in a subtle and subversive manner, which they could not challenge, he was telling them that all things are God’s. Here is an important reminder for us all - that God is sovereign over all things. Do we put God first?Lyn Hayes, ALM
