Many times, when preparing to write reflections, I often turn to music or movies for inspiration and to see what the Holy Spirit might be wanting to tell me and how I can apply it to the present day. Today is no different.
And so, as we look at the Gospel today, it’s a well-known reading summed up in the following verse that Jesus leaves us with when asked if it is lawful to pay taxes. Upon looking at the coin, and whose image is on it, Jesus says, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s.”
This is an often-misinterpreted verse in Scripture from what I’ve seen. Or at least one that is twisted in ways that make us feel more comfortable with the world today and our thoughts. The Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus into essentially choosing one side or the other, with the goal to offend one side. I’ve heard people often use this verse to justify “supporting” ideologies that may not align with what our faith teaches. And to some extent, this may be warranted, but it is a fine line, and we have to remember Whose side we’re actually on amidst all the consolations in life.
And so, when thinking of this, and with earbuds in and listening to music for inspiration, an image popped into my mind. It was actually from a movie, a favorite one of mine about the 1980 United States Olympic Ice Hockey team. The movie is called Miracle, and it follows the progression and growth of the U.S. Hockey team as they come together and inevitably face the powerhouse hockey team of the day from the Soviet Union, who had not been defeated in many years.
The U.S. team is comprised of amateur collegiate hockey players who come together from many different backgrounds and walks of life, many of whom are rivals and dislike each other. Each of them is an island. As the training and practices commence, the coach continuously asks each of them, what is their name, and who do they play for?
For numerous weeks, through the pain and struggle of training, they continue to respond in an individual way. The coach will yell/ask Who do you play for? And each player responds with their respective collegiate team – Boston University, University of Minnesota, and so on…
Each one is playing for themselves, for their own interests. This is one reason why the program had not won the gold medal in many years, because there was no unity.
It’s only when they play horribly and unfocused, and tie the Norwegian team in a game the U.S. should have won, that things change. The coach does not let them return to the locker room, and makes them do a series of line drills well into the night. Finally, in the midst of pure exhaustion, one of the players yells out his name, and screams I play for the United States of America!
That’s all the coach needed to hear. Things changed after that. And history is made. Each player is an individual, with goals and needs and responsibilities to the team, and to their teammates. They have rules they must adhere to and they must respect the authority of the coach. There are things they don’t like, people they don’t like. But they play for something larger. Something bigger. They’re many parts that form one body. And they play not for themselves, but for each other, and for the United States.
If you look at any sports team, from any country, the message is the same. They play for each other, and they play and they compete for their country.
And so, when I look at the gospel for today, and think about the message render to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s, I think of this very question – Who do you play for?
Ask yourself that very question right now – Who do I play for?
God gives us governments and organizations and authorities and rules with which we must adhere to, and respect. Sometimes this is good, sometimes this is not so good. Sometimes there are rules inflicted upon us, in varying ways, that bring us pain and heartache and discomfort. Sometimes we feel we have to do something, or support something that is not right, that goes against our thinking, because the bigger picture is more than what we can see before us. Sometimes even our very freedoms enslave us in a way.
Whether it’s in society, our jobs, or countless other realms, we often question and mix up what we owe to Caesar, and what we owe to God. But I think what Jesus is telling us today is that God put everything in place, and there is a certain level to where we need to be obedient to the various authorities in our lives whether it’s the government, community, workplaces, etc. because that is just the natural order, and the means with which the world operates, and we all play a part – good or bad, right or wrong. We have to live with and play the hand we are dealt.
But – and here’s the key – we must remember Who we play for.
In the grand scheme of everything, we must remember Who created us, and everything around us, including those we submit to. And we must remember that everything we do is in service to God. We’ve got to let go of our pride, and remember our Christian morals and always keep first and foremost in our mind that we play for, and that we live for, a greater power that is above and beyond anything in this world.
And that no matter what we must adhere to in our daily lives, the growth and discipline and rewards that will result because of our struggles, the choices we have to make, and the people we help along the way – they are all for the glory for God and His people. Christ is the name on the front of our jerseys, He is Who we play for. And above and beyond it all, we do serve and owe everything to Him. There comes a point, or many points in life, where we have to take a step, or take a stand in faith.
God is our only God, and that there is no other. How often do we put other gods before Christ? How often do we worship Caesar and forget the Man behind it all? How often do we focus on ourselves and our struggles and not take a step back and look at the big picture? How often do we twist things around into the words that we want to hear?
How great is God in your mind, and in your life? Look deep down within you, and answer the question – who do you play for?
