Our Perfectly Powerful God

Each of today's readings highlights the power of our Lord in comparison to the power of humans. But they also highlight the omnipotence of our Lord, who through his perfectly loving power will not fail in his plan for all of creation; that both nature and humanity love, glorify and honor him for all of eternity.

In the mid-sixth century (500s) BC, Cyrus the Great had overthrown the Babylonian empire and established the Persian empire. Shortly after doing so, he proclaims an edict that sets the Jewish people free. The Jewish people have been subdued, enslaved, and beaten down for almost a generation. It’s a dark time for them. And now they aren’t only free, but sent home with money, treasures and permission to rebuild the temple for worship of the Lord. One could read all about this history, but Isaiah neatly sums up what we know to be true – God will not be outdone in his power and glory and honor. Cyrus is an instrument, chosen by our Lord to be in power for a purpose. Isaiah even calls Cyrus “anointed,” a revelation of the Lord’s desire to steer our hearts back to himself, then and now, through both divine and normal means. Isaiah’s writings make it clear; even when humans are in power, “there is no other.” 

Does the theme above sound familiar: God’s people enslaved, rescued by a redeemer through God’s perfect love for them? Some 550 years later, a child is born into a period of oppression, heavy taxation, and limited freedoms for the Jews. Herod orders the death of all male children out of fear and jealousy and there is scandal and rifts abound amongst the Jewish leaders themselves. Yet Christ, through his life, death, and resurrection, brings the Jewish people, and all of humanity, out of the grasp of darkness and sin once and for all. The ultimate and perfect power.

In the gospel passage, the Pharisees, Herodians, and Caesar all have different levels of power that are at play. The Jewish leaders try to entrap Jesus, who turns their hypocrisy on its head and highlights the role and power that humans, whether they know and follow God or not, have. And in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he affirms the “gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.”

The psalmist writes “The LORD is king, he governs the peoples with equity” and “give to the LORD glory and praise.” Do you take time each day to recognize our God’s perfectly loving power and trust in his perfectly divine plan for you, no matter the human or natural events around us?

--Patrick Sippel

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.