Reflection - Conspiracy

By Steve Hall

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112120.cfm
Revelation 11:4-12
Luke 20:27-40

Conspiracy theories appear to be the order of the day. It seems appropriate, therefore, to remind you, with a few details, about a conspiracy that was not a theory, but a fact.

As exposed by Luke, the first bit of evidence for this conspiracy comes when the chief priests, scribes and elders approach Jesus demanding to know by what authority Jesus teaches. Obviously, as we know now — and as they knew then but were unwilling to admit — Jesus authority came from the Father. Jesus Himself said it: “I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me.” (John 8:28) Nevertheless, they demanded to know, and were only turned aside when Jesus posed to them a question about John the Baptist which they were disinclined to answer.

The second piece of evidence which Luke gathered tells how the scribes and chief priests also took part in the conspiracy, even employing spies. To that end they, I.e., the Scribes and chief priests, challenged Jesus with a question, approaching him with feigned ignorance and sarcasm: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" (Luke 20:21-22) The absurdity of their question is laid bare with Jesus’ simple redirection of attention to the image on the coin of tribute.

Luke proceeds to expose other elements of the conspiracy with the pitiful presentation by the Sadducees. This is the one we read today. Their question seems simple though perplexing, and Jesus’ response shows that the question is as useless as asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. After being married seven times on earth, they query, who would a woman be married to at the time of the resurrection? I can easily imagine him shaking his head or rolling his eyes in disgust.

The conspiracy against Jesus was not a theory as you well know. There would even come a time when Jesus would prophecy concerning the conspirators’ intent:

“They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did.’” (John 8:39-40)

More than once he offered a parable in order to press the conspirators to see the truth.

Although we may not think of conspiracies except in a political context, these incidents from Jesus’ life aught to provoke some serious thought about the challenges religion faces from secularists today and the conspiratorial practices they use seeking to undermine faith. Little has changed in the last twenty centuries.

As it was with Jesus versus the chief priests, Scribes and elders, the question of authority lies at the base of the secular community structure. It is from within that framework that the teachings of faith and those who profess them run afoul of self-appointed secular authority. Certain words cannot be used; certain actions cannot be performed; certain ideas cannot be expressed; certain thoughts cannot be held. Why? Because some words, actions, ideas and thoughts are considered offensive by those who choose to be offended by them. The very notion that there is an entity with authority greater than their own is itself offensive.

This brings us to the second Scriptural confrontation — the one where the conspirators would observe/strengthen/create an opposition between political or governmental positions and faith positions. The attempt of the Scribes and chief priests to place Jesus in an untenable position — either with the people or with Rome — through a question about the appropriateness of paying tribute to Caesar. Such an opposition can be effected in at least two ways: either by encouraging the secular to expand its power or by manipulating the religious to deny the rightful domain of the secular. This latter is what the Jewish leaders tried to do with Jesus. The first method is exemplified in the governmental insistence that the Little Sisters of the Poor pay for abortions in their health insurance.

The third conspiratorial tactic for undermining faith is exemplified by the Sadducees when they claim they want to know to whom the woman would be married. This form of conspiratorial exercise is common today. Jesus clarified the matter immediately by going straight to flawed thinking which generated the question: “ . . . those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.” We hear such arguments today when people take positions about “a woman having sole rights over her own body” or “dying with dignity” or “choosing the gender that I am.” Such arguments are specious because they are based on faulty premises or selectively determine which truths we are allowed to include. It is also the oft assumed position of those who are absolutely certain that all truth is relative.

Now you may observe that I am going overboard in my reaction to this matter; but the efforts to undermine faith is a problem every age has had to contend with. No less ours. On the other hand, while it is important to recognize the conspiracy elements and practices of our society, it is at least equally important that we maintain our focus on the Lord just as Peter did while he successfully walked on water. The alternative to such a focus is that, like Peter, we will sink. After all, the conspiracy is real.