Sermon for the 4 th Sunday after Epiphany, February 1, 2009
“ For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. ”
THE CHRISTMAS season began with tribute, was announced to the world with a heavenly tribute, and the world brought tribute to its newborn King. The word Tribute comes from Latin and means contribution , and means wealth that one party gives to another in sign of respect, submission or allegiance. A tributary state, such as Judea, paid tribute to the more powerful Empire of Rome, and Rome in turn kept the Pax Romana , a militarily maintained world peace.
In exchange for that peace, the Jews were ordered to register for a census and subsequent taxation, bringing many of them to their ancestral cities to document their family heritage. This is what brought Galilean carpenter Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem just in time to give birth to Jesus. It was tribute to a world empire that caused the Messiah, Israel's hope, to be born as prophesied, in the City of David. So, paying tribute to Caesar, a new emperor comes, a ruler not just of Rome's vassal states, but of the whole world, not just for the early 1 st century, but for all time.
That night heaven paid Him tribute, as angels burst forth from the sky and sang God's praises over Bethlehem and its newest citizen, the Son of David, Israel's King. Heaven paid homage to earth as the Incarnation of God's Son joined the two kingdoms—heaven and earth—into one in Himself.
The Romans had tried in vain, but never succeeded in bringing the former Persian Empire under its dominion. Once quelled by the armies of Alexander, this eastern kingdom retreated from its former world dominance, but never became Roman. So the embassage of the magi across the Fertile Crescent to Jerusalem then on to Bethlehem brought East and West together that the world should acknowledge its new ruler, the baby Jesus. Tribute was paid willingly in gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Tribute is paid to him who deserves tribute. Sometimes he is less than honorable, and yet power demands our complicity. It could be argued that Jesus, Emperor of the Universe, should not pay tribute to a punk like Caesar. In fact, Jesus put that question to Peter, “What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?” Peter saith unto him , “Of strangers.” Jesus saith unto him , “Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” Matt 17:25-27 Tribute may be paid to those undeserving, but even the Lord of Life maintains peace while His creatures provide the means for His tribute. The question was put to Him again, and he took a Roman coin, held it up and asked whose image was embossed upon it. “Caesar's” they told Him. “Then give to Caesar whatever is Caesar's, but to God, give the things that are God's.”
World power is shifting. Along with it, a great deal of wealth is moving, from hand to hand, around the globe. A century ago, the entire wealth of Arabia was language, sand and a fanatical religion. Add Arabian oil, and a western world fueling its power with petroleum, and billions pour into Arabian lands. Today the most advanced cities are being built, not in Europe or America, but on the Arab side of the Persian Gulf. Dubai rises above the sand dunes, with two towers that will pierce the sky, taller than the twin towers that fell in New York.
Political lines are being redrawn, as Europe has realigned its currency and governance, so the Americas may merge economies and rulership in our day. No point in fretting or raising a stink about it. You're not in power. You will pay tribute, in some fashion, and acknowledge whoever rules our world.
Jesus never said a word against Caesar. But He never denied who He was, either. “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, my servants would have fought that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence… You say that I am a king. I have been born for this, and for this I have come into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.” John 18:36-37 This He said to the highest Roman official in His part of the world. The Ruler of the Universe had no trouble giving tribute to a smaller man, but a man with rulership nonetheless.
An even lesser Roman official, a centurion, came to Jesus to plead for the healing of his servant. Jesus was willing to travel where this foreign occupation soldier lived to heal the man. Here the commander objected that he was not worthy for this holy man to enter his dwelling, and bade Jesus merely to give word, and he knew it would result in healing. “ For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.” He gave examples of how he could command his servants and soldiers, and know they would obey. At this, Jesus marveled, saying, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” What the Lord was amazed at was this Italian son of pagans saw what His own disciples missed. Jesus was powerful, yes. But Jesus was only powerful because He was under the authority of His Father . Great power only exists because it acknowledges, obeys and honors greater power. The soldier saw that and knew Jesus' word would bring health. Having authority means first being under authority. No one rises above that realization .
A sort of nervy friend of mine called me recently from Colorado, sharpening her knives of criticism for our new President, less than one week in office. While the substance of her tirade was partially true, she finally proclaimed, “He's not my President.” It only made her mad when I argued that he certainly was. When she insisted, I told her that maybe she'd better pack, because if she remains in this land, and under its banner, whoever holds that office is indeed her President. She hung up on me.
I was only echoing the Word God gave through St. Paul. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.” You can't have only the leaders you love, those you personally voted for. We believe in democratically elected officials, and when that process is finished, we give tribute, by our laws, to whoever holds that office. Moreover, it does us honor that we honor them.
Conversely, it is a shame and disgrace in this state that any part of our government— its courts and its attorney general —should not immediately honor the will of its people after November when Proposition 8 won approval. The people have spoken. America is a nation of the people, by the people and for the people . On this issue, not even the President of the United States has the power to overturn our voice.
Tribute is given where tribute is due . If we resist that reality, we receive to ourselves condemnation. Fail to pay your taxes this April and you can go to jail. You can't live here and say this is not your government. Moslems don't have the right to move to California and start insisting on Sharia laws. So, Christians can't live here and commit themselves to the overthrow of government either. There are ways to change the things to which we object. That was Prop 8. It works. So does impeachment, and the legislature of Illinois just proved it with the first ouster of a governor by impeachment nationwide in over 20 years.
Rulers are not a terror to good works . This was written during the reign of Caligula and Nero. The Christians of Rome had to read this line several times, and recheck their bearings. Rulers are people and people are faulty. No one says that the kings of the earth may not be insane . But there is power from above, and even Hitler could not remain in power forever. Failings of rulership have checks and balances, even in a dictatorship, and the world will not allow such men to reign unchallenged. Only a madman would try to rule while turning all his people against himself. The hypnotic effect of a Hitler, Stalin, or Mao only set loose the engines of their destruction, and all these nations have undergone powerful overturnings of their levers of power.
President Obama, Governor Schwarzenegger , Sheriff Reniff, and Mayor Schwab today are the ministers of God to us for good . I can't coalesce them in my thinking into a unit of coordinated, single-minded governing philosophy. We live in interesting times, as I have said. But by the oaths of office taken by each of these they all swear to uphold our Constitution, a land governed under God. So, love them or otherwise, criticize their words and actions as you please. It's a free country. But they are our leaders, and the Bible says they are servants of God, given by His wisdom to us for our good . How so? Step out of line and find out: it says, “he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Okay, so they can have you arrested. But it also says for us to be subject, not only in fear of legal reprisals, but for conscience sake . If we are Americans, and if we love this land, we pay taxes, we honor our elected officials, tribute to whom tribute is due, honor to whom honor.
Time will tell and history will record the successes and failures of our leaders. It is beyond any of our vision to know if their plans will work or fail, or whether they benefit the people of this country. But God knows. And for certain, and I know this in my own limited way, when the leadership of any people is placed as a mantle upon the shoulders of any person, God comes with that and gives graces for service beyond the native powers of the individual. God cares more than does that official about the people being governed . And even if that governor fails the charge, God is still God. Nobody can un-elect Him. He will reign when all earthly powers fall. Christ is King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords.
Nobody need come away from this sermon thinking that Father Hansen has knuckled under and bought into anyone's politics or policies. There is a great deal that frightens me about all politicians, especially those presently serving. But all the more do I give my honor, my tribute, and hope in God. For He is Light, and Light shines all the more in a darkening world. Who is to say what God's plans for this hour may be? We remain faithful, honest, hard-working and good. We keep the faith. In God we trust. We bear tribute to whom tribute is due.
PFH+