Looking Back – November 1, 2020

All Saints Day

Scripture: Matthew 22: 15-22

Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism. So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked. “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed. (Matthew 22:15-22)

Our relationship with money has a history as long as our lives but also as expansive as the family systems and culture of which we are a part. Creating spiritual practices for how we deal money invites us to look back, to see with new eyes how and when our values and fears were initiated. Like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, we sometimes need some help in the midst of the discouragement that can come with being in the “whale” of our fear about money. We look back with a practice of compassion for ourselves and others and a faith that reminds us of our true worth.