"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what is God's"
Matthew 22: 15-21
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102223.cfm
A number of years ago I pastored a parish that enjoyed a local farm family with 15 children. One thing was for certain; there was a definite family resemblance that ran through all the children and youth who were a mixture of grade, high school and college age youth at that time. One daughter was recently married.
You knew what their family
name was and all you had to do was look at any of them to know what “clan” they
belonged to. That is, with the exception
of one of the older boys. As far as I
could tell he didn’t look anything like his brothers or sisters. Meeting the family for the first time, I
thought he was a friend of one of the older boys but soon was corrected and
told, nope he’s one of us. A roll of the
genetic dice I suppose. Whose image do we show?
Many things may run through
our minds here in light of the Gospel this Sunday. In a clear effort to entrap Jesus, the
Herodians and Pharisees, enemies themselves, join forces to pose a question to
Jesus that would reveal on whose side he really was – or so they thought: that
of the Romans or that of the Jews.
Either way, they felt he would entrap himself.
In an almost sickening false
flattery, Jesus is insincerely complimented by his questionnaires, then asked
the entrapping question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
Matthew relates that Jesus knew their “malice” their evil intent and, as
always, could read their hearts and knew their true intention.
If Jesus said “no” you
should not pay the census tax, then he would anger the Romans and be accused of
sedition. If he said “yes” then he would challenge the very Commandment to the
Torah to have no other god’s before you by siding with the Romans and their
brutal occupation of Israel. For imprinted on the coin they showed Jesus was
the clear image of Caesar and an inscription which claimed him to be the “son
of god,” in reference to his father who had been proclaimed divine by the Roman
government. Interesting coincidence considering who these characters were
talking with.
“Show me the coin, “Jesus
stated. As Pharisees, being
representatives of the Sacred Law, they should have no such graven image in
their pockets let alone in their hands. Still, someone does although it isn’t
stated who but the very fact that it is produced for Jesus proves their
complicity. They possess the coin which
pays the census tax, which reveals their complicity with Rome.
Brilliantly, Jesus states: “Then
repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Score
another one for Jesus!
There is likely no other
line Jesus spoke that Christians have wrestled with its meaning. What is Caesar’s? What is God’s? How wealthy can the Church be
and what about the right use of money in light of our Christian faith? We
modern American’s may point to this as a classic example of the separation of
church and state, but its meaning has nothing to do with our American
Constitution. It is far more about our
right relationship in the human community and the one God, who is Lord. One
example may help to answer the question as to what belongs to who.
In the story of creation, as
God creates humankind, we hear that we are created “in the image and likeness
of God,” Every human created with the image of God is unique. We don’t look the same, we don’t walk in lock
step uniformly and each human person has a unique individuality that reflects
the limitless power of God over all things.
Creation is the same. A tree is a tree but not every tree is
identical. A flower is a flower but each
one bears a unique shape. And so
on. To God is owed all things because he
is Lord of all and we above all , bear the image of the creator. Like the ancient image of Caesar imprinted on
the coin, the image of God is imprinted on us eternally.
So to whom do we owe
what? As citizens of a nation, we have
responsibilities of good citizenship of course and to determine what is "Caesars,”
that is taxes, obedience to law and order, good citizenship, and patriotism is
pretty clear. Government officials have a legitimate authority to protect its
citizens and we work for the common good of all in this Country. We all know how fortunate we are to have a
say in our own governing. Yet that power is limited and uniformly applied, we
hope, like the money we carry.
But the things of God have
no limit: all is gift, and all is grace.
All authority ultimately comes from him. Our first reading from Isaiah
today reminds us how God used the pagan Persian King Cyrus as an instrument to
return the exiled people to Israel: “I have called you by your name, and given
you a title, though you knew me not.” He released the Jews in captivity and
even assisted them in their return to the devastated Jerusalem with assistance
to rebuild their temple. He was a “messiah,”
a savior to these people despite his pagan background. God will use anyone for his good
purpose.
We human beings belong to
God for as money is printed in the image of an earthly nation we human beings
are created in the image of God.
Therefore, it may be not so difficult to recognize that when it comes to
our human obligations to our government pitted at times against those that call
us to Christian discipleship, we find a tension,
It should be for us a matter
of how the human person is recognized, respected, protected, and honored by our
government. If we live in a culture
which looks at life as more pragmatic rather than as sacred, then our
allegiance must be always to the higher moral standard which God has
established. As the poor, the elderly,
the frail, the unborn child the innocent are all unable to support and protect
themselves are ignored or dismissed, then we rise to make a difference and
speak to “Caesar” so that laws can be changed.
We give to God what is God’s. If the sanctity of the marriage covenant
is seen as not what God intended, then we must choose what God is owed not what
is popular or political. Give to God what is God’s. We owe him everything as he
is the Lord of our lives.
So, while we may separate
our allegiance to State and Church we cannot live as dual citizens – one way
for one and another way for the other; one way in Church and another in the
public place. The choice must be ours.
We are Catholic/Christians who live in a secular culture, and we cannot
compromise the things of God for the things of Caesar. As citizens of a nation life stops here when
we are gone. But as citizens of the
kingdom of God, we go on beyond this world where our total giving will be for
God alone. So, whose image do we follow?
Upon one another, who do we see?
Grant, O Lord, we pray,
that, benefitting from participation in heavenly things,
we may be helped by what you give in this present age
and prepared for the gifts that are eternal.
Through Christ our Lord.
(Prayer after Communion)
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