[ Jesus said:] “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
[Matthew 22:19-21 Exodus 3:7-8 new international version]
“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
My wife and I voted earlier this week.
For the past several years, we’ve made it a habit to vote early at the Board of Elections instead of fighting the crowds on Election Day.
I highly recommend it for everyone. Although it may involve driving a little further, I find it much more convenient and much less stressful.
It may be my imagination, but I’ve noticed that, with each passing campaign cycle, the lines of early voters have gotten longer.
For me, it is a hopeful sign that pushes back against the opinion that people are feeling increasingly anxious and uncertain whether voting is even worthwhile as the integrity of elections is continuously called into question by scheming (read: corrupt) politicians.
I can only speak for myself, but voting is the one civic duty which I take extremely seriously.
I don’t contribute financially to any candidate’s political campaign, no matter how many solicitations I receive either by mail, email, text or phone.
Our housing development does not allow political yard signs, but I would not put one up anyway.
I will also not display a bumper sticker on my car or on any other visible location.
Regardless of how much I may support a candidate’s policies, or how much I believe them to be a person of integrity, I will not give anything other than the act of casting my ballot at the polls. And I highly encourage anyone to do at least that!
If others feel compelled to do more, I would never discourage it. As I stated earlier, I am speaking only for myself.
So, you might ask, why do I feel so strongly about this issue?
Part of my distaste for financial contributions stems from the proliferation of attack ads on television, the overwhelming majority of which are dishonest, offensive, and obnoxious. There are even worse adjectives to describe them, but I’ll stop there.
These days, I watch television with my remote in hand, ready to mute every commercial block which, more often than not, is a litany of attack ads. I will not support or be a part of such vile tactics.
Most of the ads end with a sentence voiced by the candidate stating that they approve the message. REALLY???
That in itself is reason enough NOT to vote for the candidate.
Think about this: the candidate’s approval of a dishonest ad speaks to that candidate’s character. And if they are dishonest and deceptive about their opponent during he campaign, how much more so will they be about other issues once in office?
I am fond of quoting two verses in Psalm 146 that inform my thoughts about politicians:
Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.[Psalm 146:2-3 BCP Psalter]
I didn’t mean to go on an extended rant about political ads, so let me redirect this narrative to its initial intention.
This coming Sunday’s Gospel offers some guidance as to how to discern God’s will for our lives in in light of our current political climate.
I’m no longer preaching on a regular basis, but I still practice the weekly spiritual discipline of reading the upcoming lectionary passages.
This week, Jesus, as usual, is in debate with the Jewish religious leaders who, eager to get him out of their way, try to trick him into saying something that will incriminate him.
Jesus, as always, foils their plans.
The question we are left with after sitting with this text is, who is your God?
The reading and the question have deep implications for us today.
That is one reason that I digressed so deeply into my political contribution tirade earlier.
I also could not resist using the photo that is today’s feature image up above as a prompt.
I preached on this reading six years ago when we were still in COVID lockdown and I was recording video sermons from my basement.
The intervening years still find us a highly polarized nation – perhaps even more so than in 2020 – therefore I offer it here and invite you to watch it. The video runs around twelve minutes.
I close with three prayers today. The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff, retired Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, offers the following prayers for use when engaging with media reports. (February 2025)
Prayer before reading, watching, or hearing the news:
Brother Jesus, as I take another daily dose of the news, abide with me. Let me stay informed about what is happening around me, as you did when you walked this Earth. Let me notice where love thrives and let me recognize where love is denied. Keep my heart soft so that I never echo the contempt that I see and hear. Show me how to exchange my fear for your hope, my anger for your peace. Above all, show me how to respond with simple, concrete acts of love for those who are most vulnerable, so that your goodness, kindness, and mercy may yet abound in our torn, conflicted nation. Amen
Prayer while reading, watching, or hearing the news:
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen
Prayer after reading, watching, or hearing the news:
God of Love, as I step away from this news report, remind me to take a deep, deep breath, to relax my neck and shoulders and jaw, and to let tension fall away. Stay with me as I move from hearing to doing, from fear to fierce determination to follow you more closely than ever. Show me how to be neighbor to everyone I encounter on this tumultuous journey, no matter who they are, no matter who they voted for. Give me the courage to be kind and the grace to be merciful, now and always. Amen
