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Jesus said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (St. Matthew 22:14).
No, today is not Stewardship Sunday. It might seem so in light of the Gospel for the day. But in what Jesus taught about rending things to the government that are due to the government, and rendering things to God that are God’s, it does provide me with the opportunity to speak about the recent and on-going world financial crisis in light of Christian faith and discipline.
I was in England from October 1st to last Sunday afternoon, and would habitually read at least two of England’s daily newspapers and occasionally watch BBC news in the morning while dressing (except for when I on retreat) to learn of the latest news on the global financial crisis.
Obviously, the coverage was primarily about their situation, but there was plenty of news about the United States.
Every one of us has been affected by this fiscal implosion and we all pray that better days are ahead. I am not an economist, and I don’t understand the ins and outs of banking as some of you for whom banking was or remains your profession.
Jesus said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (St. Matthew 22:14).
No, today is not Stewardship Sunday. It might seem so in light of the Gospel for the day. But in what Jesus taught about rending things to the government that are due to the government, and rendering things to God that are God’s, it does provide me with the opportunity to speak about the recent and on-going world financial crisis in light of Christian faith and discipline.
I was in England from October 1st to last Sunday afternoon, and would habitually read at least two of England’s daily newspapers and occasionally watch BBC news in the morning while dressing (except for when I on retreat) to learn of the latest news on the global financial crisis.
Obviously, the coverage was primarily about their situation, but there was plenty of news about the United States.
Every one of us has been affected by this fiscal implosion and we all pray that better days are ahead. I am not an economist, and I don’t understand the ins and outs of banking as some of you for whom banking was or remains your profession.
What I do know, as you surely do, is that what was going on for several years was not good, so bad decisions and practices have now come home to roost. People have lost in some case millions of dollars in savings, investment, and retirement plans, and for most it has been many thousands of dollars. I would think that Christmas and next year’s summer vacations plans at a minimum will be different for most people; and that for many people what was planned on being purchased (such as car or a home) has been backburnered, or a plan of expansion for one’s company or Alma Mater.
One of the seven deadly sins taught by the Church Catholic is covetousness, which has many forms. In the St. Augustine’s Prayer Book which I hope all of you have a copy, there is the valuable section on “self-examination” before making a private confession. There we find a form of self-examination based on the seven deadly sins. Under covetousness we read the following definition:
“Covetousness is the refusal to respect the integrity of other creatures, expressed in the inordinate accumulation of material things; in the use of other persons for our personal advantage; or in the quest for status, power or security at their expense.”
Under the sub-heading entitled “Avarice” we read that it is:
“Inordinate pursuit of wealth or material things. Theft, dishonesty, misrepresentation, or sharing in stolen goods. Cheating in business, taxes, school or games. Making worldly success the goal of our life or the standard for judging others.”
Under “Prodigality” we read that it is:
“Extravagance or living beyond our income, to impress others or to maintain status. Unnecessary borrowing or carelessness with others’ money. Expenditure on self of what is needed for the welfare of others.”
And under “Penuriousness” we read that it refers to:
“Undue protection of wealth or security. Selfish insistence on vested interests or on claimed rights. Refusal to support or help those who a claim on us. Failure to give due proportion of our income to Church and charity, or of our time and energy to good works. Failure to pay pledges promised to the Church or charities, when able to do so.”
Now I would not read such things as these it all of you were tithing – giving ten percent of your income (however or in whatever forms it comes) to God in obedience to biblical teaching; but even if you are, there are things contained in the St. Augustine’s section of self-examination before making one’s confession to God through the priest that are worthy of serious self-examination.
If the shoe fits, wear it in humility and contrition, and with the need of repentance for forgiveness and the grace to chart a new moral course for your life in this particular area of your life.
You all know that you and I were created by God for God. He in Christ is our Lord and Master, and we are His servants. We are to do what we know to be true about living holy and righteous lives that please God and strengthen the work of the Church on earth. This is our common vocation as those who have been born again in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.
This requires obedience in doing God’s will in all things above our wills, and living by faith rather than in fear. Sounds simple, but it is so hard because we have all inherited the sin of Adam and Eve- putting oneself before God for all types of reasons, but fundamentally we because our faith and trust in God is not mature and secure. This is why the Church calls us to be on a progressive journey of conversion of our selves, souls, and bodies to the living God to whom we must one day give account.
Last Sunday before I headed on the Piccadilly line of London’s Underground rail system to Heathrow Airport, I went to the early Mass at St. Stephen’s Church, Glouster Road. I did not know before going that T.S. Elliot had been a church warden there many years ago.
After I said my preparatory prayers in the nave, I read the parish’s Sunday bulletin. It in the Rector had written what I think is something very clear and challenging, and worthy of sharing with you.
Father Reginald Bushau wrote:
“Facades and appearances…come to mind as we hear the daily news reports about the state of the world’s financial markets and institutions. Impressive corporate offices, an appearance of wealth and prosperity, a somewhat thin veil of propriety masking a very different reality in practice and intention. The outward show extends to the competition of those working hard for the biggest bonuses, best share options, and seats on the board.
Throughout the history of the Church, theologians and spiritual guides alike have insisted on the need for integration between body, mind, and spirit in a whole and holy human person. It is not something that can be brought about in the twinkling of an eye; it is a life long process. It is described in many ways, there are various sorts of terminology, but it all boils down to being real about the people we truly are as opposed to the people we think we are, or the people we want the world to believe we are or the people the world pushes us to be. Most importantly it is about knowing how different we are from the people God is calling us to be.
It seems to be too easy to say that there is more pressure in our day to put on a good show, put up a good front, to conform both in appearances and in values and ambitions. It must surely have always so; perhaps modern communications and media just make the pressure more immediate and specific; access to debt makes that which is coveted more accessible right now, our lack of it all more powerful.
The spiritual life is precisely about the twin poles of pruning away at the outward dross and the feeding and encouraging of our inner relationship with God in Christ. The whole range of spiritual disciplines, prayer and the sacraments are precisely for this purpose. Important and vital too, are the Church and our fellowship with one another.
The goal is to bring the inner and outward person into a true integration with Christ. More precisely to work with the Spirit to allow God to work that integration in us.”
And then the coupe de grace for me was when the assistant priest, Father John Hunter, said in his sermon, “We spend our time aiming for good goals we have chosen for ourselves, rather than going for the even better ones God is trying to set before us.”
My dear people, let each one of us intentionally take personal inventory of ourselves, confess our sins, and with the grace upon grace found in Jesus, and with the expression the US Army once used in recruiting, “Be all you can be” for God and as God’s children with fuller obedience to Him.
+In the Name…
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