Gospel: Matthew 22: 15-21
Modern Christians seek to separate themselves into labeled categories: progressive or traditional; modern or medieval; conservative or liberal. Much like the Pharisee and Herodian, each seeks the mantle of God for what is in reality not a theological claim but a political one. Which false god are we really promoting - the Roman empire or the restoration of an ancient kingdom God didn't want in the first place? It is a false choice we create, for neither choice is really the one Jesus is pointing to - God alone.
The real test for the Christian was not at Vatican II or the advent of the modern age or any other popular myth of the culture wars. The real defining moment was Europe in 1940-1945: were you someone who sought to protect innocent people from the gas chambers, or were you enabling Nazis in that work and in escaping to other countries? To protect human dignity and being is to love God in loving our neighbor. To enable the powers of this world to commit atrocities is to make a false god, a political idol.
Cyrus of Persia was a brutal, awful man; ancient historians attest to this fact. Israel anoints him for an isolated nicety he does for them; they made an idol of the political. Throughout history Christians have done likewise with kingdoms, nations, and political parties to our own day. Perhaps someday Paul's words to the Philippians will sink in for us: "For our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there alone that we await a savior."
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