9TH TUESDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
9TH TUESDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “GIVE TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD.”
BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
They sent some Pharisees and Herodians to him to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.
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“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” This statement of Jesus has been used so often to support the principle of separation of Church and State. It looks like Jesus was advocating dichotomy of life: that life in society is separate from the spiritual life.
We should understand the context of this statement. The issue was about paying taxes. The Pharisees used this issue “to ensnare him in his speech.” If He says that the Jews should pay taxes to the Emperor, the Pharisees will accuse Him of being the enemy of the Jewish people for supporting the Roman Empire. If He says not to pay the taxes, He will also be accused of inciting rebellion against Rome, which could result in the destruction of the whole Jewish nation. It seems there is no way out here.
But once again, Jesus showed His infinite wisdom in adroitly avoiding the trap. And to their shame and dismay, He even turned the table on them. He asks for the ‘tribute penny’ or the coin used in paying tax, which was worth a day’s wages. They hastily and injudiciously gave it to Him. This revealed their hypocrisy and treachery to the Jewish nation. It is unthinkable for religious leaders of Israel, such as the Pharisees, to be seen with this coin. It was a Roman denarius imprinted with the head of the Roman Emperor. The inscription reads, “Ti[berivs] Caesar Divi Avg[vsti] F[ilivs] Avgvstvs” (“Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus”). So, clearly, the Romans believe that the Emperor is divine. Hence, the fact that the Pharisees have this coin in their pockets can already be considered sacrilegious. They are caught red-handed by the Lord!
Then Jesus totally dismantled their deceitful offensive and rendered them speechless by saying: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” This statement simply means that we have obligations to civil society. Among these are to obey legitimate authority and to pay taxes. So Jesus said: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”
But the second part of the statement is the most important: “Give to God what belongs to God.” So, what belongs to God? Everything – for everything comes from Him: time, health, money, talents, blessings, family, faith, and everything else in this world. He owns all these things; we are simply stewards. But are we willing to give them all back to God? That is the big question. We receive everything from God, but many of us are not that willing to give what He deserves. Instead, we are more extravagant in using our God-given blessings and resources for our selfish interests and worldly endeavors. In this sense we are doing grave injustice to Him.
The greatest commandment of God is very short but the most difficult: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mk 12:30). A hundred percent. All and everything for God. Amen.
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