Whose image?

One day some of the people who were vexed by Jesus’ ministry came to him with a challenge. They showed him a coin. The idea was to entangle him in an argument about whether or not it was right to pay taxes, as they would go to the occupying authority. Jesus challenged them back: Tell me: whose image is this? And they said, the emperor. So he said, what belongs to the emperor, give to the emperor; and what belongs to God give to God. (see Matthew 22:15-22)

O my.

And we may ask:  whose image is this, on all the people of Earth?

And then we remember:  “God created humanity in his own image…” (Genesis 1:27)

So we give to God what is God’s – ourselves.

And we respect the image of God in one another. 

So we seek to respond reverently, with respect for dignity and with charity for the needs of others, for in doing so we offer thanks – a gift of gratitude – to the Original in whose image they are made: the true living God who created all of us.

God’s glory is revealed among the nations, all the peoples of the earth, in Christ who becomes present to us as we the body of Christ go to work in the world, acting in concert with his works of mercy.

God has chosen us and called us to be his saints – imitators of the Lord and examples to all the believers. Like the people of the pagan past, who turned from false images of God, we turn from our own false idols to serve the living and true God, and our hope is in his son Jesus Christ.

This is what it takes to declare God’s glory among the nations and his wonders among the peoples: to go out and share your faith, not resting on past achievements – or simply maintaining what we have received; not hoarding it like a pile of old coins – but building up the kingdom.

The kingdom of heaven, the reign of God, the promise of peace, begins to come into being, as we ourselves live and work and act as its people.

As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are sanctified – set apart for a holy purpose – as God’s beloved people, who are called to be saints.

We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world.

We witness to the truth that through all things Christ’s light can shine, and that in Christ God’s glory is revealed to all.

Be witness, then, by word and deed, by your gifts of gratitude and works of charity, by your everyday labor and extraordinary kindnesses, as witnesses to the truth, and the grace and mercy and peace of God be with you all, that you, who are called to be saints, may be made holy people, made in the image of the living and true God.

As we look about us, we see God’s image in each other. As we look across the world, we see God’s image in complete strangers, far away. And yet they are, like us, God’s beloved children.

We are in the midst of a season of gratitude, of giving, of thanksgiving. We reflect upon the abundance of the grace of God, and the providence of his blessing.

May God who gives grace to us, give us grace to give others; may God who is merciful to us, and kind, bring kindness and generosity into our lives, that we may share the abundant love of Christ with those around us.

May we, seeking to do your will, find it in serving you; in seeking you to serve you; & find you in the face of others, friend and stranger.

May we, serving you in others, find ourselves at home; and find our home in you.

Amen.

JRL+

An edited version of this essay was published as 

"Serve God by serving others", Keeping the Faith, Home + Life, Arizona Daily Star, Sunday, October 8, 2023, page E3.