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FROM FR. OAKLAND

“Render unto Ceasar that which belongs to Ceasar, and to God that which belongs to God.”

It’s not the answer the Pharisees were hoping for, as they hoped that in the presence of some government officials Jesus would decry the practice of paying taxes to support the foreign power that presently ruled Israel, and funding the soldiers who keep watch over them. They hoped that Jesus would reinforce their own belief, which they dared not utter publicly, that the Roman empire was evil and therefore they didn’t need to support it. Because if Jesus had taken their bait, they could hand him over to the Romans and he would be their problem now – and the Romans aren’t exactly tolerant of revolutionaries. Unfortunately for his questioners, Jesus isn't interested in overthrowing the Romans and reestablishing the great Jewish Kingdom of old from the glory days of Solomon. To him it doesn’t matter what earthly kingdom you belong to: “Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar.” If you are a part of an earthly kingdom, you need to be a part of that kingdom – not simply receive the benefits but support them as well. The Pax Romana, the free movement and roads and trade. Support the king and the king’s works, whether you like them or not. We are now receiving ballots, and it’s important to participate in an informed way in our electoral processes. Or you can change kingdoms. But if you do, you are still expected to render unto that Ceasar, as well.

Partners in the Gospel Listening Sessions

First Session: Tuesday, October 27 | 7PM | Fr. McGirl Hall, SJ

We are now starting Phase 3 of our Partners in the Gospel journey. During this time, we will be asking "Who does God want us to become?" This is our opportunity to envision what our new one parish could look like. This is more than just some tweaks or adjustments, or looking at the opportunities that were identified in Phase 2, but to really envision what the parish could look like in ten years, for example, striving towards an ideal and our bigger purpose. We will also be brainstorming some possible key initiatives necessary as a part of this. The PFAC will take this information to write a parish Vision Statement and identify 4-6 key initiatives. Please see the Listening Session schedule and invite those you know to participate.