Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s [Matt 22.21]
One of the incredible things about being Catholic is the multitude of ways in which we can pray. A few weeks back, I talked about how scripture can be, and should be, a big part of our faith experience. But scripture can also be a big part of our prayer experience.
For example, often when praying with scripture, we can use two ancient techniques. One is called meditatio – meditation. It is when we think deeply about the passage of scripture, and ponder both the details of the passage and its images and concepts. Some would say it is a form of prayer that is led by the brain and uses our power of reason. The other technique is called contemplatio – contemplation. Contemplation is less about thinking about the passage, and more about putting ourselves into the scene. It is a form of prayer that is led by the heart and uses our power of imagination.
So, what happens when we take today’s Gospel passages to both those forms of prayer?
If we MEDITATE on the gospel, then we could reason that the scripture underscores the importance of both civic responsibility and spiritual devotion. It emphasizes the idea that there are two distinct but interconnected realms in our lives: the worldly and the spiritual. By saying, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” Jesus acknowledges the need for his followers to fulfill their civic duties and worldly obligations as responsible citizens that contribute to the well-being of their communities. On the other hand, the second part of the statement, “give to God what is God’s,” is a reminder that our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. Our spiritual lives, our faith, and our moral values should never be compromised by our civic responsibilities.
When I take that very same passage to CONTEMPLATIVE prayer, I begin by imagining myself in the scene, watching the Pharisee’s disciples try to entrap Jesus, and interestingly, a different message comes through. I see the group of disciples of the pharisees come and pose their question to Jesus. In some ways, it is humorous, since the question is actually from the pharisees, but they had sent their disciples, their students, to ask the question. And so in my imagination, I see them pose the question to Jesus with a smug smirk that comes from their own self-inflated feeling of importance at being able to trap Jesus, not realizing that they were completely out of their league. And as I contemplate Jesus answering their question, I can almost see him turn to look at me, a faint smile on his lips as he says “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” – and then with a glance in my direction and a discrete wink of the eye, he continues “and to God, what is God’s.……“
Why the smile? Why the wink?
The beauty of contemplative prayer, the beauty of letting God touch us in contemplative prayer, is that it reveals to our heart what may not be readily apparent to our mind. Our imagination can reveal what our reason may not. Jesus winked because it was a trick answer. The Roman coin was stamped with the image of Caesar. And so, we give to Caesar what is marked as Caesar’s.
But the human heart is stamped with the image of God. You and I are made in God’s image and likeness. So, we are called to “Give to God what is God’s.” And herein lies the reason for the smile and the wink …… It was because WE belong to God. And not just you and I have been formed in God’s image -but all of creation, from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the vastness of the cosmos. EVERYTHING is GOD’s !!
God is not something separate from creation or even from our lived experiences. It’s all one package! It’s not like God is here in Church, and NOT there outside this building. How did we ever start to think that faith and life were separate? How did we ever begin to think that God cared more for how many times we went to Sunday Mass, and didn’t care for how we lived our lives between the Sundays. How did we ever start thinking that our lives are not surrounded by, touched by, nuanced by, and immersed in God within whom we live, and move and have our being. That our very lives, and their every moment, is a prayer, in communion with our creator.
For me, that wink reminded me once again that our encounters with God exist beyond the familiar pew, and the singing our favourite hymn within the expected liturgy. It reminded me that all of creation belongs to God and that I am called to be a good steward of that creation.
But it also reminds me that I most fully see the essence of God when I ponder Jesus, and see how he teaches us, even today, about Caring, about Mercy, about Forgiveness, about Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, about freeing those feeling trapped, about going beyond ourselves, transcending ourselves, to care for others ..
The beauty of praying with Scripture, whether it is in Meditation, or in Contemplation, is how God uses that prayer to communicate with you, to reveal incredible insights and life lessons.
So maybe this week you can take some special time to have an encounter with God. Perhaps in praying with Scripture, in meditation or in contemplation – Perhaps in being outside, aware of your surroundings and reflecting on the beauty of God’s creation – Perhaps in reaching out to help those less fortunate, or by showing your love to your family.
For, when we take time to pray, it is amazing what can be conveyed in a wink of an eye.