The coin in today’s Gospel bore the image of Caesar, therefore Jesus told them, “give it back to Caesar”. They’d sent in the apprentices, School boy error, the smooching and flattery was as transparent before Jesus as glass. But almost as a throw away line at the end He adds….”and to God what belongs to God” this is what’s struck me this week.
We had the funeral of my lovely Mother in law this week, a sad and emotional day where all who belonged to her gathered together as she was returned to the one she ultimately belonged to.
You see, Gods image was impressed upon Teresa as clearly as Caesar was on that coin. The paschal candle was lit to remind us of her baptism, and of our baptisms when God stamped His name on her soul and claimed her as His own. I don’t think I have seen such evidence of that claim as in this, her last few weeks with us here. Belonging to Jesus meant a mystery priest arriving to give her the last rites, a space for a requiem Mass at short notice when all, including us thought it probably couldn’t be done, and many other smaller but beautiful miracles. I’ve learnt that when we belong to Him, He never leaves us. Not ever, not for a minute. His faithfulness fortunately isn’t measured by our own.
Who do you belong to?
We have a deep seated need to belong, we seek belonging, and we all belong to someone or something. The flip side of this coin is rejection and it brings the deepest wounds. BLM and LGBT and similar movements Im sure have come from the hurt of rejection and that in built desire to belong. Rejection makes us seek a place where we have a commonality, and the basis on which we are rejected can become the identity which we use to belong somewhere else. If we are told you don’t belong here, we seek the place where we are. Sadly that first place of rejection can often be church. Not God, Not Jesus but us, as the Church. I’m sorry if that’s your experience, really. You belong in His family, you are made in His image.
I know who’s image is impressed on my soul, I may have tarnished it, distorted, denied or ignored it at times, but it’s His face upon the front and ‘Property of Christ’ inscribed on the back, before you recoil, not all ownership is slavery and not all apparent independence is freedom…. look honestly at who or what you belong to, what you’ve sold out for, check if they or it is willing to die for you. Yes ? Or No?
By His grace I have sold out for Jesus… and for 30 silver coins he was sold out for me, and for Teresa, and for all who embrace their baptism and maybe even some of those who don’t…..
…Until the resurrection lovely lady xx
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