Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Twenty Ninth Sunday of the Year, A – October 22, 2017: World Mission Sunday.

Readings: Isaiah 45:1,4-6; Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1,3-5,7-10; 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 & Gospel Matthew 22:15-21.

Theme: Of Caesar and God on Mission Sunday and Beyond!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, today is World Mission Sunday. Our reflection shall highlight the major points of the theme for the 2017 World Mission Sunday: “Mission at the heart of the Christian faith” which the Holy Father, Pope Francis chose. Incidentally, our gospel reading (Matthew 22:15-21) presents us with the timeless metaphor of “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what we belongs to God.”  We shall also attempt the biblical understanding of the Caesar metaphor, contemporary application and highlight the responsibilities of Christians to the State. However, we shall reflect on some takeaways from the pope’s message.

Ten takeaways from Pope Francis’ World Mission Sunday Message

In his opening remarks, the pope reiterated that “The Church is missionary by nature.” He particularly noted that mission is the transformative power of the Gospel of Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Other highlights of the message include:

1. Jesus invites us to follow him with confidence and courage as he directs the Church’s mission to all men and women of good will through the transformative power of the Gospel.

2. Jesus who constantly takes flesh in every human situation invites us to preach the Gospel which is a vital and effective word that accomplishes the existential transformation of all God’s sons and daughters.

3. Through the Gospel, the risen Christ lives with us so we may welcome him with faith and love in order to experience his transforming power which makes the whole creation fruitful.

4. Through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, Jesus who is the Gospel, continually offers himself and constantly invites us to receive him with religious faith so as to share his life by an active participation in the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection.

5. We are called to imitate Christ who continues his mission as the Good Samaritan who cares for the bleeding wounds of humanity and allows the gospel to help us overcome narrowness, conflict, racism and tribalism towards promoting reconciliation and fraternity among all.

6. The mission of the Church impels us to undertake a constant pilgrimage across the various deserts of life so as to face challenging experiences such as hunger and thirst for truth and justice which reminds us that we are exiles journeying towards our final home.

7. Mission reminds us that the Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, is nonetheless a humble instrument and mediation of the Kingdom.

8. Since young people are the hope of mission, we must involve them in the shared missionary responsibility which needs their rich imagination and creativity.

9. World Mission Day which is promoted by the Society of the Propagation of the Faith is a wonderful opportunity that facilitates the missionary heart of Christian communities to join in prayer, communion and generous service in responding to the large and pressing needs of evangelization.

10. We are urged to carry out our mission with Mary, Mother of Evangelization who is always ready to help us say “Yes” to the will of God in our lives.

Background to Understanding the Caesar Metaphor

The two major characters who confronted Jesus in the gospel were the Pharisees and the Herodians. While the Pharisees opposed the idea of paying taxes to the Romans, they nonetheless did so to avoid trouble with their political masters. The Herodians who were members of the Herod’s party were Jews who supported the payment of taxes to Rome.  This background means that the question of whether to pay taxes to Caesar or not had political implications. Beyond the trap they had set for Jesus, the pertinent question was meant to clear the air concerning the relations between the Church and the State. 

By replying “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” Jesus wanted them to understand that they had missed the mark because both Caesar and his image belong to God. By implication, both divine and political power are God’s. Jesus’ answer set the benchmark for living in a civil society while being committed to one’s faith. It also clarifies whether a Christian is supposed to be active in politics or not. We shall briefly emphasize its contemporary application.

Contemporary Application

1. Responsibilities of Christians to the State

According to Evangelii Nuntiandi, number 70, “Lay people, whose particular vocation places them in the midst of the world and in charge of the most varied temporal tasks, must for this very reason exercise a very special form of evangelization. Their primary and immediate task is not to establish and develop the ecclesial community — this is the specific role of the pastors — but to put to use every Christian and evangelical possibility latent but already present and active in the affairs of the world. Their own field of evangelization activity is the vast and complicated world of politics, society and economics, but also the world of culture, of the sciences and the arts, of international life, of the mass media…” 

Just as Christ was anointed by the Father as Priest, King and Prophet, all the baptised share in the Priestly, Kingly and Prophetic mission of Christ – Therefore, empowered by the Common Priesthood of Christ, Christians have the following responsibilities to the state:

a). Respect for Law/Civil Obedience: Christians are bound to respect civil authorities. This means that civil obedience to the state is not negotiable. From obeying traffic rules to reporting crime, it is the responsibility of Christians as good citizens to cooperate with civil authorities in all matters. Except for things which are contrary to right reason or the faith, no one has the right to disobey constituted authorities.    

b). Paying of taxes & Utility bills: A good Christian pays his or her taxes and utility bills. Tax evasion or using water and light (electricity) without paying is a grievous sin. As such, for a Christian to be truly a child of God, he or she should be seen to pay taxes and utility bills for the development of the state.

c). Patriotism, Prayer & Goodwill: The Church exists in within the society. This means that that if she expects her members to be docile, the same is expected of them in the secular space. Those who wield political and secular power expect that we pray for them and the nation. The goodwill we demonstrate towards those in power goes a long way in helping them deliver on their promise.

2. Priests as Bridge-builders between Church and State

Aside from the Common Priesthood of Christ enjoyed by all believers, there is the Ministerial Priesthood of Christ which is a privilege enjoyed by a few who are called to be ministers of the Word and Sacraments. To this class belongs the governing body of the Church. As such, they are the bridge between the Church and the State in the following ways:

1. Walking the talk: Pastors of souls must imitate Christ the Master by walking the talk. It was Pope Paul VI who said: Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”  

2. Talking truth to power/ Dogged witnessing: There is the tendency to sugar-coat the gospel in a manner that it protects the powerful. On the contrary, priests have the mandate to preach the truth no matter whose ox is gored. Many a prophet fear being criticised, abused or killed. For example, because some pastors of souls are afraid of agents of the state, they may not be able to preach against lack of payment of salaries. The prophetic mandate must not grow cold because pastors of souls do not want to change the status quo. In any case, they must demonstrate “Catholic Action” in word and in deed.                 

3. Shun Materialism and Partisan Politics: Men of God must learn to live beyond the love of money (Cf. 1 Timothy 3:3).  This implies shunning materialism so as to be emboldened to preach about the ills of church-donors who harvest from ungodly sources. Pastors of souls must be exemplars by being nonpartisan while giving lay Catholics a sense of direction regarding secular affairs.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

ü  Jesus directs the Church’s mission to all men and women of good will towards the transformative power of the gospel.

ü  Jesus mandates that we accomplish the existential transformation of all God’s sons and daughters through preaching the gospel.

ü  Through the gospel, the risen Christ lives with us so we may welcome him with faith and love.

ü  Beyond the trap the Pharisees and Herodians had set for Jesus, the pertinent question was meant to clear the air concerning the relations between the Church and the State. 

ü  Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees and Herodians shows that they had missed the mark because both Caesar and his image belong to God.

ü  Today’s liturgy challenges Christians to be responsible citizens of the state.

ü  As bridge-builders between the Church and the State, Priests must be exemplars.

Conclusion

We are reminded in the first reading (Isaiah 45:1,4-6) that God is unrivalled and there is none like him. This is why St. Paul challenges us in the second reading (Matthew 22:15-21) to accept the Good News as the Power of God – In the spirit of this Sunday, we recall that “some go to the mission by giving and some give to the mission be going.” The closing words of the Holy Father for World Mission Sunday are worth recalling. The Pontiff urged us to carry out our mission with Mary, Mother of Evangelization who intercedes for us to acquire the holy audacity which every man and woman needs for salvation. Happy World Mission Sunday – Have a great week ahead!