|
Introduction: A Shepherd's Care
Fr. Leopold has been on the job for quite some time so it can
hardly be said that we rushed into this installation ceremony!
At the same time, your warm applause speaks to the joy with which
you have received this prayerful, talented, and hard working priest.
I thank you, Fr. Leopold, together with Fr. McKenna, for extending
so readily a shepherd's care to the people of Sacred Heart Parish.
Today we remember with gratitude the priests who served here
previously most especially Father Joseph Joaquin, your former
pastor, and Fr. Mark Grimes, whom we commended to the Lord this
year. As a parish family led by Fr. Leopold, you are building
on a legacy of faith which, in this parish, stretches back more
than 125 years.
You are part of a legacy of faith that traces itself back to
Christ and the Apostles & indeed all that God promised to his
people from the dawn of salvation history. Truly, I can say of
you, in the words of St. Paul to the Thessalonians: "We give thanks
to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers,
unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and your labor
of love and enduring in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before
God the Father…." [1Thes 1:4]
Render Unto Caesar
As we seek to move forward and build on firm foundations of our
faith, the Scripture, read in the light of our Catholic Tradition,
is our sure guide. Before commenting on today's Gospel, let me
note Fr. Leopold is an especially dedicated teacher of the faith.
And, as far as the Church is concerned, that is Job #1 for a priest
or bishop. For it is nearly impossible to sanctify or to guide
unless one first teaches!
And in fact, the Gospel for today, Father David, offers a good
summary of the gift and responsibility you bear as a teacher of
the faith: you've been charged to teach us how to render to Caesar
what is Caesar's and to God the things that belong to God - no
pressure there! As you already know so well, that is your task
not only during elections but in fact all the time, in season
and out, whether welcome or unwelcome.
Certainly in today's Gospel setting, Jesus found himself in a
hostile situation - for both the Pharisees and the Herodians teamed
up to trap him. If Jesus favored paying taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees
could accuse him of compromising the Mosaic law by supporting
the Roman Empire who had conquered the Jewish people. If Jesus
rejected the obligation to pay taxes to Caesar, the Herodians
(who accommodated the Roman occupiers) could accuse him of being
a political troublemaker. Jesus escaped their malicious trap with
a wisdom they just couldn't match: "Give to Caesar what belongs
to Caesar and to God, what belongs to God!" But what exactly does
this very famous saying of Jesus mean? What exactly belongs to
God? And what belongs to Caesar?
One author tells us that Jesus' answer accomplished 3 things
all at once:
First, Jesus acknowledged that Caesar has rights; there
is a difference between what is Caesar's and what is God's.
Second, Jesus demotes Caesar (whom the Romans had begun
to see as divine) by suggesting that Caesar has no rights over
what belongs to God, Jesus in effect makes it clear that Caesar
is not God; his authority has limits.
Third, Jesus leaves it to us to figure out what is Caesar's
and what is God's; that's why we need good sound teachers of
the faith like Fr. Leopold!
What Belongs to God and Caesar
One thing is certain: Jesus' saying is not meant to get us off
the hook by isolating what we believe as Catholics from our political
choices. Bringing the truths and values that flow from faith and
reason to public life and working with public authorities to create
a more humane society is hardwired into Christian thought by both
Scripture and Tradition. It won't do for us to be Pharisees who
oppose involvement in politics because it is a messy world of
conflict and compromise.
And it won't do for us to be Herodians who go along to get along.
Sometimes, the state has to be opposed as when it legalizes attacks
innocent human life as in abortion or euthanasia. In our day,
sanctity-of-life issues are basic, not just because of "religious"
views even though these are important & deserve to be in the public
square. No, the right to life is basic because taking the life
of the unborn attacks human dignity is in a uniquely grave way,
in a way that is always wrong. In denying the innocent and defenseless
the God-given right to life, Caesar is usurping what belongs to
God.
For human rights are not granted to us by the state but by God,
as our own Declaration of Independence so boldly declares. Once
one group of people's rights is denied, all human rights are endangered.
Similarly, the state must be opposed when, against the common
good, four justices on a court redefine the institution of marriage
against the dictates of reason, the history of civilization, &
the will of the people!
So in the end, what do we owe to Caesar? We owe respect & prayers
for our leaders: respect for the law, obedience to legitimate
authority, and service to the common good. In a democracy, respect
does not mean silence or going along with grave evil but exercising
our right to work for what is true and good in society.
In fact, we owe it to our country not to be complacent but to
love it so much that we bring to its public life the true values
of our faith coupled with the courage of a well-formed conscience.
In loving our country and exercising our freedom in this way,
we end up also respecting all that belongs to God: our minds,
our hearts, our freedom, the people we love, the created world,
our souls, our moral integrity, our hope of eternal life.
The Role of Teacher
Fr. Leopold will expend much love and energy in teaching the
faith not to be a political guru & not to embroil his parish in
partisan politics. Rather, he will joyfully proclaim the Scripture,
faithfully transmit the Church's doctrinal and moral teaching,
constantly convene you for worship and lead you in the ways of
prayer - so that - in your own life as lay men and women in the
world - you will be well equipped to sort out what is God's and
what is Caesar's. Doing this well is crucial for the good of the
society you and your families live in; it is also crucial for
the salvation to which all of us earnestly aspire.
May God bless you, Father Leopold, in your constant pastoral
love as you teach and serve the pastoral needs of this wonderful
parish whose very name speaks of the deep love which Christ has
for us all. And May God bless us all and keep us in his love.
Return to the Writings of Bishop
Lori
|