Allegiance to God first, the world second

Published: November 28, 2009

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor

By Bishop Anthony B. Taylor

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor delivered the following homily on Nov. 22, the feast of Christ the King.

Many countries do not recognize dual nationality, so when their citizens emigrate, they lose their previous citizenship but not so people from Ireland, France or Japan. They keep their previous citizenship, which can cause conflicts.

Remember what happened to Japanese-Americans during World War II? We put them in concentration camps because we didn't trust their loyalty to the United States. Dual nationals may feel an emotional attachment to two countries, but you find out which comes first when the two come into conflict. Many Japanese American soldiers served our country bravely during World War II. Now nobody doubts their faithfulness.

You and I are dual nationals of another sort: born into this world but also citizens of the Kingdom of God, which can cause conflicts -- as we see in the Scripture readings of these last three Sundays of the liturgical year. This world rewards its own, while God rewards those who are faithful to him.

Two weeks ago Jesus warned us not to pursue worldly honors (titles of respect, the places of honor at banquets) and praises a woman who does what God requires -- pays her tithe -- even at the cost of great sacrifices incomprehensible to worldly people.

Last week he described the disastrous end of this world and worldly people, and the victory of all who are faithful to God, which will be fully manifest on the day of Jesus' Second Coming, for which we pray on today's feast of Christ the King.

And so I ask you: Where does your primary allegiance lie? Where do you invest your time and energy?

Some here make great sacrifices to get ahead in this world. Some of you immigrated to provide for your family and give your children a better future -- very good goals, but there is a danger. Once we've tasted a little worldly prosperity, there is the danger that we will want more. A nicer house. A more impressive pickup. More and more things that are not bad in themselves, but are only worldly and can easily become bad when the pursuit of these worldly things puts us in conflict with the values of the Kingdom of God, namely: faith, hope and love.

That's the most fundamental choice you will ever make. The world seeks power, pleasure, possessions and prestige, while the Kingdom of God is built on faith, hope and love.

So I have to ask you: Do you make as many sacrifices for your FAITH as you do to get ahead financially? Do you work as hard to reach out with LOVE to the needy as you do to achieve recognition for your accomplishments? Do you take risks to speak out courageously in support of unpopular truths in HOPE of correcting injustices or are you a coward, keeping quiet -- afraid to ruffle a few feathers -- because the approval of others is more important to you than doing God's will and standing up for what is right?

You and I are dual nationals, born into this world but also citizens of the Kingdom of God, and the demands of the two are sometimes incompatible. Which comes first in your life?

We feel an emotional attachment to both our country and to the Kingdom of God, but you find out which comes first when these two allegiances come into conflict -- you cannot serve two masters.

Jesus rewards those who are faithful to him with meaning and purpose in this life, the genuine happiness that comes from living for something bigger than yourself in this life -- and eternal life beyond the grave.

If Japanese-Americans during World War II had not made loyalty to the United States their first priority and primary allegiance -- ahead of their love for Japan -- their future place in American society would have become very doubtful.

And the same is true for us who are citizens of the Kingdom of God. If loyalty to the Kingdom of God is not your primary allegiance already in this life, ahead of your love for the United States or any other country -- that's why we say "one nation UNDER God," God's demands come first -- if faithfulness to the Kingdom of God is not your highest priority in this life, how do you expect to have a future place in the Kingdom of God in the world to come?