Homily on Mark 12:13-27
Mark 12:13-27
Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it." And they brought one. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him. Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her." Jesus said to them, "Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."
Dear Folks,
In today's Gospel reading, we witness two attempts to trap Jesus, two challenges designed to expose him, to discredit him. But, as always, Jesus turns their traps into moments of profound teaching.
First, we see the Pharisees and Herodians, an unlikely alliance, united in their desire to ensnare Jesus. They flatter him, pretending to seek his wisdom, but their hearts are far from sincere. They ask, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" A classic "catch-22." If Jesus says yes, he alienates the people who resent Roman rule. If he says no, he's accused of sedition.
But Jesus, knowing their hypocrisy, sees through their facade. He asks for a denarius, the Roman coin. "Whose head is this, and whose title?" he asks. "The emperor's," they reply. Then Jesus delivers his famous response: "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."
This isn't a simple division of worldly and spiritual realms. It’s a call to understand our priorities. We are called to be responsible citizens, fulfilling our civic duties. But our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. Everything we have, everything we are, ultimately comes from God. We must not let the things of this world distract us from our devotion to Him. We must not let worldly powers claim what rightfully belongs to God: our hearts, our souls, our very lives.
Then, we encounter the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection. They present a convoluted scenario about a woman married to seven brothers, attempting to ridicule the concept of life after death. They ask, "In the resurrection whose wife will she be?"
Jesus responds with a powerful rebuke: "Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?" They are limited by their earthly understanding, unable to grasp the transformative reality of the resurrection.
Jesus explains that in the resurrection, earthly relationships, like marriage, are transcended. We will be like angels in heaven, living in a state of eternal communion with God. He then uses the very scriptures they claim to uphold, referencing the burning bush, to demonstrate that God is the God of the living, not the dead. "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." God's relationship with them continues beyond their earthly lives.
These two encounters reveal a fundamental truth: our limited human understanding can easily lead us astray. We can become trapped in worldly concerns, like the Pharisees and Herodians, or we can cling to narrow interpretations of scripture, like the Sadducees.
Jesus calls us to a deeper understanding, a faith that transcends earthly limitations. He calls us to recognize God's sovereignty over all aspects of our lives, both worldly and spiritual. He calls us to embrace the hope of the resurrection, a promise of eternal life with Him.
We are called to live in the present, fulfilling our responsibilities, but with our eyes fixed on eternity. We are called to engage with the world, but not to be consumed by it. We are called to know the scriptures, but also to understand the power of God, a power that transforms death into life, a power that offers us a future beyond our wildest imaginations.
Let us learn from these encounters, to be sincere in our faith, to be open to God's truth, and to trust in His promise of eternal life. Let us give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. Amen.
Love,
+Br'er Abbot
