Trinity 23
Render Unto Caesar
"Render unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22.21)
A favorite movie of mine was Sgt. York. As I grew up, I was fascinated by serving in the military. When I became of age, I followed those desires and joined the Navy Reserve. To render unto Caesar.
As I grew older however, I came to realize the reality of the cost of war. It then became my intent to serve as a chaplain someday.
I figured it was the right combination-duty, honor, country, and God. I cannot help but wonder if I fully understood where God fit in.
The Jews of our Lord's time wanted a warrior with a sword in his hand as their messiah. In their disappointment, they hung Him on a cross partly because He spoke of peace and freedom from their sins, not freedom from the Romans.
Yet we see our Lord at times angry, and ready to fight, as He was in the temple with the money changers. His righteous indignation.
Ultimately, its is our Lord's sacrifice that we come to understand the most. He said, no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his friends. That indeed defines the men and women who have donned a uniform and picked up a gun, or lest we forget, sailed the ships.
These brave men and women have put all of themselves on the line and no matter what the political issues, their sacrifice remains real.
Sometimes we are called upon to serve willingly, sometimes not. Ultimately, the willingness to express our own righteous indignation in the face of tyranny should never be discounted.
And we must remember those who will step up to serve---- and those who will serve and not return, and those who do return and can never forget.
We cannot ever forget the cost of war on them, on our friends and our enemies, on those who are just there. The debt of war lasts long after the fighting has stopped.
Sometimes to render unto Caesar means the full and total commitment of our life. ----- It requires a full and total sacrifice.
Today especially and throughout the years, we will honor and remember those who have died and served, -- with our memories and sometime our tears. We will thank those who have given a measure of themselves for our freedom.
And when you really think of it, given His ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross for our salvation, does not our savior deserve the very same. AMEN
Thankfulness and Saving Faith: A Trinity 14 Reflection
Why did only one leper return to Jesus? In Luke 17:11-19, all ten lepers received physical healing, but only one returned to thank Christ. Fr. Dan explains that gratitude is more than good manners. It is the response of a heart that recognizes God’s mercy and seeks relationship with the Giver rather than simply enjoying the gift. Through thanksgiving, the Samaritan received not only cleansing but true spiritual wholeness.
Love That Crosses the Road: The Good Samaritan and Grace
The Good Samaritan teaches us that Christian love is more than feeling sympathy or performing respectable religious duties. Because Christ has first shown mercy to us, we are called to cross the road, draw near to those in need, and make His love visible through acts of compassion.
Ephphatha: Hearing God’s Voice Above Life’s Noise
In this Trinity 12 sermon on Mark 7:31-37, Fr. Dan reflects on Jesus healing the deaf man and connects the miracle to modern spiritual deafness caused by constant noise, distraction, and technology. Christ’s command, “Ephphatha” (“Be opened”), becomes a call for Christians to seek silence, hear God’s voice, and be transformed by His grace.