Window 22

The three window group on the north side at the back of the nave illustrates Gospels which fall into a time of the year whose name has gone out of use.  It is called the season of St. Michael and All the Angels and spans the Sundays of October. The archangel St. Michael is referred to at several places in the Bible, especially Revelation 12:7.  He is the warrior angel who fought victoriously against the enemies of God’s people.  Most appropriately, the Festival of the Reformation falls into this time of the year.  The Reformation celebrates God’s restoration of the truth of the Gospel: salvation alone by grace through faith in the crucified Jesus Christ.

The theme of warfare during this season of the year is most graphically proclaimed at the base of the three windows.  The six shields identify the weapons for Christian warfare as listed by St. Paul in Ephesians 6.  From right to left they are the belt of truth, the harness of righteousness, the sandals of peace, the shield of faith in the cross of Christ, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Window 22

In the last triad of windows at the back of the nave on the north side, the one at the left illustrates the Gospel from Matthew 22:31-46.  At the top of this window is the hand of God.  In the picture’s middle are two hands.  The one at the left holds a heart inscribed with a Chi Rho, the one at the right, a coin.  A globe of the earth appears under the coin, a burning candle under the hand at left.  The two shields have been explained.

The illustrated Gospel deals with Jesus’ answer to pupils of the Pharisees, popular with the people who hated the Romans, and the Herodians, the pro-Roman government party.  The Pharisees and Herodians sent their pupils to lay a trap for Jesus with their question about paying taxes to the Roman government.  Both parties had no choice but to pay the required taxes.  They wanted Jesus to tell them whether it should be done willingly or unwillingly.  If willingly, the Herodians would approve and Jesus would lose the respect of the people; if unwillingly, it would be vice versa and Jesus might come under suspicion of the government.  Instead of being trapped, Jesus trapped them by asking them to show him a coin. When they produced a Roman coin from their pockets, he spoke the well-known words: “Give Caesar what is Caesar’s, and God what is God’s.” Undoubtedly, the people were using Roman coins and enjoying social stability under the Roman government.  Therefore they owed taxes (hand with coin) to the government (globe).  As for the gracious Giver of all good things, let them give to God (open hand) what he desires, their entire self (heart), especially out of gratitude for the promised Savior (Chi Rho).  By faith (burning candle) Christians are properly motivated to obey government and to obey God.