Easter 3

Recently an accountant asked a client how many dependants he would like to claim on his Income Tax return.  The man was already exasperated at the thought of his usual large tax payment as he proclaimed, “well, I only have two children, but you might as well put down three dependants, let’s not leave out my greatest dependant of all, the Federal Government!”  Well, let’s hope that man thought better of it before going through with his little joke, the IRS is not exactly known for its sense of humor in regards to such matters.  But this anecdote and tax season in general do raise some interesting questions for us as Christians.  Just what exactly is our responsibility towards the civil government? And beyond that, how does our heavenly citizenship relate to how we are to live in relation to all of the other spheres that are a part of our daily lives?  

These questions are specifically dealt with in this the second half of the post-Easter season into which we transition today. The first two weeks after Easter, we have been instructed as to our spiritual condition as being buried with Christ in Baptism, and raised to new life in His glorious resurrection.  Now the tenor of teaching changes from theological truth to practical living.  St. Peter calls us “foreigners and exiles,” so in one sense we are just sojourners in this world.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  This understanding of being citizens of heaven was so strong in the early Church, in fact, that both St. Peter and St. Paul were forced to address the issue.  It seems that some early Christians were so happy about the fact that they were now citizens of the heavenly kingdom that they wanted to deny any responsibility to the earthly kingdom in which they lived. 

Jesus himself had addressed this issue, remember when he said “Render unto Ceaser that which is Ceaser’s, and unto God, that which is God’s.”  In other words, even though we live in a new sphere of existence as redeemed people, and are now a part of God’s heavenly kingdom, we are not exempt from meeting the responsibilities and following the laws or our earthly kingdoms.    St. Paul spoke to this same issue in the thirteenth chapter of his letter to the Romans.  In fact, he goes so far as to call the civil authorities “ministers (or servants) of God.”  How can that possibly be?  Well, they are not ministers, of course, in the sense of being ordained to the special calling of Holy Orders in Christ’s church.  However, God is nothing if not orderly.  And He has ordered our world in such a way that in every sphere of our society, those who serve mankind are actually serving Him.  Yes, even in the civil and political spheres. 

So to the Christian who would argue that since he is a citizen of the heavenly kingdom he answers only to God Himself, Sts. Peter and Paul would say: “No, it is true that you are a citizen of heaven, but you must also live as a citizen of earth until the day that you are taken out of this world.”  “Be subject to the governing authorities,” St. Paul says, “Be subject to those who govern,” St. Peter says.  So long as the civil authorities are ruling in accordance with God’s revealed will, they are to be respected and obeyed as God’s very servants. 

And so we see in the second half of the post-Easter season this great balance coming into focus.  The sense that we are citizens of heaven on one hand, and citizens of earth on the other.  We have, in effect, a “dual citizenship.”  Our daily lives and behavior within the sphere of earthly society should always be lived out in light of the reality of our spiritual standing before God.  There is never any real conflict between things theological and things practical.  They are in perfect harmony with one another.  And what we believe is true theologically, must condition the way we live our everyday lives.  Truth be told, what we believe always determines how we behave, whether we realize it or not.
We are helped along this path by the words of our Lord to the disciples shortly before his death.  He assures them that they will see him again even after he dies.  This, of course, later occurs.  But to us the Lord gives the same promise.  We too will see him face to face someday.  So we endure the travails of this earthly life in expectation of that day.  We live as good citizens in light of our heavenly hope.  We pay our taxes, obey the laws, avoid immoral behavior, and show charity to all types of men.  So that anyone who would slander our Lord or His Church will have nothing to say. 
Today’s lesson is essentially a wisdom lesson.  For we are encouraged to live as wise, and not as foolish.  We can enjoy our lives, making wise decisions and always rejoicing at the knowledge of our spiritual condition and our heavenly destination. 

The sadness and heaviness of Lent and Good Friday are passed, Christ is risen, triumphant and exalted.  And so are we.  Our sins have been forgiven and we are now free to live life as free men.  Free not in the sense that we can do anything we want, free in that now we can live the way that God wants us to live.  And enjoy all of the peace and fulfillment that goes along with it. 

May God grant us the wisdom to live our everyday lives in light of what the Easter season has taught us about who we are and where we are going.
Amen.

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