A new heaven and a new earth - it certainly seems like an attractive option, for the old earth is in pretty sad shape right now. This hopeful new earth would be a place where righteousness would be at home, for at present, righteousness seems like an unwelcome guest in our old earth at times. But a lot depends on us - St Peter encourages us to grow in grace and knowledge, so that we can act as leaven in our world - to make it a new earth.

Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not? It seems like a no-win question. If Jesus answers yes, He is a traitor to His people; if He answers no, then He is a rebel against Rome. But Jesus is smarter than His tormentors. Using a coin as a prop, He points to the image of Caesar and says to give to Caesar only what belongs to him, but to give to God what belongs to God. But as a faithful Jew, Jesus believes that the entire world belongs to God, so Caesar would actually get nothing. Jesus never allows Himself to be backed into a corner or forced to choose one side over another. As far as we are able, we should do the same. Give God's answer - it always works. In doing so, we can transform this old earth into a new earth.