[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 24A

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Oct 18, 2014 5:45 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 24A



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon isentitled “Give WHO…WHAT?!” or “You Are What You Think” and deals with the Gospel(Matthew 22: 15-22).  Here it is: 
 
Doyou remember the story I told you back in May 4, 1014?   It was about a principal, school custodian,and some 12-year-old girls?  According toa news report, a certain private school in Washington recently was faced with aunique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstickand would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would presstheir lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night, thecustodian would remove them and the next day, the girls would put them back.Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all thegirls to the bathroom and met them there with the custodian.  She explained that all these lip prints werecausing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors everynight. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she askedthe custodian to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out along-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it.  Since then, there have been no lip prints onthe mirror (JokesWareHouse.com Joke of the Day).  
 
Justas that principal and custodian outsmarted the girls, Jesus once againoutsmarted the Pharisees when they tried, as usual, to trap Jesus.  It seems they didn’t have the nervethemselves, so they got some of their students to ask him a trick question:“Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?” (Matthew 22: 17b).  This was intended to be one of thoselose-lose questions for Jesus.  What theyfigured was- if Jesus said to pay taxes to the Emperor, the people would beangry.  They hated the Emperor and Rome,because they were an occupied country. If, however, Jesus said not to pay taxes to the Emperor- he would end upin prison or dead!  Did you notice howbrilliantly Jesus handled the situation? First he asked, “Whose picture and name are on it?” (Matthew 22:20b).  When they answered “TheEmperor’s”, he said: “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God whatbelongs to God” (Matthew 22: 21b).  Heput it right back in their corner- their trick didn’t work.
 
Asyou know, in those days- the Emperor represented the government, so thequestions comes right back to us.  Whatdo we owe the government and what do we owe God?  Let’s look at what we owe our government first.  
 
“Be a     good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and     order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen.” Romans 13:1     (The Message Translation).  In the     U. S. this means- be informed, vote, participate, and obey the law.  Be informed- do you know what’s going on     in your city, state, country, world?      Do you only watch fun TV programs, or do you watch the news?  Are you registered to vote?  If not, get registered.  Don’t put it off and then miss your     chance to vote.  If you don’t vote,     you have nothing to say about what our officials do!
 
“Prayer     and thanksgiving should be made for kings and all in authority” (1 Timothy     2:1,2).  You notice, we pray for our     leaders in church.  Do you pray for     them in your own private prayers?
 
You’ll     love this one- “You must also pay your taxes” (Romans 13: 6).  Yech!      Of course we know it’s true!      Who else is going to pay for roads and schools and police officers     and inspectors to be sure our food is safe?!

That’swhat you owe the government.
 
Now,what do you owe God?  Remember, Jesussaid to look at the coin to see whose image was on it.  If we look at this quarter, who’s image is onit?  Sure, George Washington- the firstpresident of our country.  Now, whoseimage is in you?  God’s! (Genesis 1:27).  Do you remember the poem way backfrom 2001 that goes:
“My face in the mirror isn't wrinkledor drawn.
My house isn't dirty.  The cobwebs are gone.
My garden looks lovely and so does mylawn.
I think I may never......put my glassesback on.”
“Godcreated humans in his own image.  Maleand female created he them.”)  What’s itmean to you?  Remember the end of lastweek’s epistle- Philippians 4: 8 (“Finally, my friends, keep your minds onwhatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stopthinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.”)   Since we are what we think, if we think onthose things, that’s who we’ll become. So put your God-glasses back on and look at life as a child of ourheavenly Father.  
 
Whatis this?  (a mirror).  Tomorrow morning, when you first look atyourself in the mirror- probably with your hair a mess and your teeth notbrushed, remember that you are created in God’s image.  Don’t worry too much about what you looklike- be concerned about that precious image inside and don’t embarrass yourdad.  
 
Foranyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statementsare posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITE under “Sermons & Stuff”. Theaddress is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org.
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's EpiscopalChurch
Saginaw, Michigan

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