Dealing With Loaded Questions

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, December 4, 2024

The week of the first Sunday in Advent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21So they asked him, 'Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?' 23But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24'Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?' They said, 'The emperor's.' 25He said to them, 'Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God’s.'

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 936)

AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalm 12, 13, 14

Isa. 2:1-11; 1 Thess. 2:13-20; Luke 20:19-26

Today we celebrate the Feast of John of Damascus. (See below.)

David's Reflections

Integrity--being integrated, being united, being congruent, being honest.  The word comes from a Latin root that means intact, entire, whole.  In today's Gospel Jesus encountered people who obviously lacked integrity.  The religious leaders exhibited hostility toward Jesus because his teaching had exposed their spiritual lack, their unresponsiveness to the presence of God's kingly rule.  That hostility and lack of integrity finds expression in Luke's words in verse 20, "they . . sent spies who pretended to be honest."

The intent of the spies was to entrap Jesus by asking questions that would result in Jesus’ losing, no matter how he answered.  Those questions were not really questions at all, because those asking the questions already had their own answers.  Rather, those questions were masked verbal traps, designed to undermine Jesus' popularity and to provide the basis for a legal accusation, what we call “loaded questions.”

This text reports one of those questions, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"  Palestine was ruled by the Roman emperor, that rule itself a source of anger to Jesus’ people; the Holy Land belonged to the God of Israel and to have a non-Jewish ruler over that land was to usurp God's will.  That constituted blasphemy.

Roman emperors routinely stamped their image on the coins of the realm.  For Judaism that violated the commandment against making graven images, especially since the Romans practiced emperor worship.  So, the coins themselves constituted a form of idolatry.  The hope of the questioners was that Jesus would give a yes/no answer.  If he said it was improper and a violation of Jewish law to pay taxes to the emperor, they could accuse him of insurrection.  If he said it was proper and legal, they would have succeeded in undermining his popularity with the people by labeling him as idolatrous.

This entire scene alerts us to reflect on how we communicate.  Our culture specializes in doublespeak, using language to obscure and confuse rather than to reveal and connect.  Language becomes a power tool, used to manipulate and control and achieve the ends of the speaker/writer, rather than to connect and reveal and elicit understanding. Silence can serve that same purpose, to control and conceal.

In the Christian community, what are our goals when we speak with one another?  When God speaks to us in Scripture, in the voice of the Holy Spirit, in the loving words of another, in a hymn or a prayer, what are God's goals?  God seeks to make God’s self and God’s nature known to us and to make our own nature, our brokenness, our evil, our needs known to us as well.  The voice of God seeks our good, our salvation, our freedom, our wholeness.  Jesus' speech had a freeing, liberating, enlightening, life-giving effect on those who opened themselves to his words.

Jesus' response to their question frustrated their dishonest agenda.  First, he exposed their duplicity by asking for a coin. They readily produced one. They were carrying coins with the emperor's image--which revealed that they were not as concerned about the issue of idolatry as might appear.  To put it another way, carrying the coin while asking the question exhibited a lack of integrity.  Then, his answer, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's (coins for taxes), but give to God the things that are God's (your supreme loyalty and devotion)."

The writer of Ephesians had a phrase that sums up the thrust of these reflections, "Speaking the truth in love.” (Eph. 4:15)

Collect of the Day, The First Sunday of Advent

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 211)

Today we celebrate the Feast of  John of Damascus, hymn writer and defender of icons (died 4 Dec 749 or 750 CE)

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/John_Damascus.htm

Collect of the Feast of John of Damascus

Confirm our minds, O Lord, in the mysteries of the true faith, set forth with power by your servant John of Damascus; that we, with him, confessing Jesus to be true God and true Man, and singing the praises of the risen Lord, may, by the power of the resurrection, attain to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for evermore. Amen.

A Collect for Protection

O God, the God, who in your providence called Channing Moore Williams to the ministry of this church and gave him the gifts and the perseverance to preach the Gospel in new lands: Inspire us, by his example and prayers, to commit our talents to your service, confident that you uphold those whom you call; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Of the Departed

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 253)

In the Morning

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.  (BCP, 461)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Reading:  Luke 20:19-26

       19When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.

       20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21So they asked him, 'Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?' 23But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24'Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?' They said, 'The emperor's.' 25He said to them, 'Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.' 26And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer