From the UCC Network: 10/16/2011 "Hands"

Hands

Excerpt from Exodus 39:32-43  

"Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the covering of tanned rams' skins and the covering of fine leather, and the curtain for the screen; the ark of the covenant with its poles and the mercy seat; the table with all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the pure lampstand with its lamps set on it and all its utensils, and the oil for the light; the golden altar, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the entrance of the tent…The Israelites had done all of the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses."

Reflection by Quinn G. Caldwell

Here's the thing about hands.  The same pair can be used to build a bomb and to stroke a child's face; to smack your spouse around and to paint a masterpiece; to flip somebody off and to remove a cancer from an ailing body.  It's all about who's in control.

The Israelites had just blown it big time: they had cast themselves a golden calf to worship.  The story glosses over the actual process of making the calf, but it must have taken a lot of work, some of it quite skilled, to produce such a thing.  A lot of work, a lot of craftsmanship, a lot of time, a lot of loving care…all to produce one of the worst abominations God seems able to imagine.

Now here are those same people, offering the Tabernacle.  The hands that created an abomination have now woven, and dyed, and cast, and sewn, and built a great portable cathedral in the desert.  Those same sinning hands have now produced tools to dispense forgiveness, and furniture for righteousness, and containers for covenant, and a seat for mercy, and a great thing of beauty rising in the starkest of surroundings.

When left to their own devices, the best the people could come up with were a cow and a party.  With God in control, they crafted mercy, and forgiveness, and beauty.

Who's going to control your hands today?

Prayer

God, I know whose playground idle hands are.  So grant me tasks to do with mine that will be gentle, beautiful, creative, and just.  Amen.

About the Author Quinn G. Caldwell is Associate Minister of Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and co-editor, with Curtis J. Preston, of the just-published Unofficial Handbook of the United Church of Christ.

From the UCC Network: 10/16/2011 "About Taxes"

About Taxes

Excerpt from Matthew 22: 15-22 

"Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"

Reflection by Felix Carrion

Entrapment is the aim of the question about taxes posed to Jesus by the Pharisees. But Jesus is too smart to fall into the trap. He's also too smart to supply a yes or no response. And, for sure, he will not answer a question each of them must answer for themselves.

(Having said this, Google "famous quotes about taxes," if you want to laugh and be intrigued.)

Now back to the question about taxes served to Jesus on a large platter of political machinations, seasoned with a whole lot of flattery. (Is this sounding familiar?)

Here's the deal. Two factions in Jesus' day were having it out over taxes. The Herodians, supporters of the local dynasty of Herod, were clear about paying taxes to the emperor, their overload. With Rome's backing they had garnered their power and fortunes. The Zealots, on the other hand, were committed to overthrowing Rome's rule over Israel, and would not support in any shape or form paying taxes to their oppressors. The Pharisees were kind of in the middle. They did not abide being subjects of Roman dominance but were in opposition to the Zealots’ use of force.

Had Jesus answered no, he probably would have been arrested on the spot. Had he answered yes, he would have landed squarely on the side of the Herodians, willing subjects of Rome and of this world’s power and fortune.

So, Jesus says show me the coin used for the tax.  (Note he didn't pull one out of his "pocket.") Whose head is this, and whose title? They answer, Caesar's.  Jesus responds, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.”

What I hear and see in Jesus' actions and words is this: What does the world say about who is the head of your life? What does the world say about what this ruler is entitled to?

Now, what do you say?

Prayer

O God, grant me pure clarity about what belongs to this world and what belongs to you. And, may I give my all to you. Amen.

About the Author Felix Carrion is Coordinator of The Stillspeaking Ministry, United Church of Christ.