| For your convenience you can now listen to Fr. Bob’s reflection, click here. |
29th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Tax to Caesar
|
| 10-18-20 |
| The
parable of the two sons, the parable of the wicked tenants and the
parable of the Kings Feast all see Jesus on the attack. The first
parable of the two sons where the one son told his father that he would
go into the vineyard, but didn’t. Jesus points to the religious leaders
as the unworthy son who doesn’t do the father’s will. Then, the parable
of the wicked tenants. Jesus tells the Chief Priests and Pharisees that
they are the wicked tenants. |
| Jesus
compares the condemned guests once again with the Scribes and
Pharisees-the religious leaders. In our gospel today, the Pharisees have
had enough and plan a counterattack. They direct a carefully formulated
question at Jesus and begin by flattering Him. They call Him, “Teacher,
we know you are a truthful man and follow God’s way.” Then they ask a
question while the crowd looks on. “Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar or
not?” |
| The
crowd must have fallen silent at that because this is a loaded
question, a no win situation for Jesus. If He said they should pay
tribute to Caesar then He would lose His credibility with the Jews. If
He said that it was wrong to pay tribute to Caesar, then He was
committing a public act of treason and the Romans could arrest Him. The
silence must have been deafening while the crowd waited for Jesus to
reply. What is he going to say? |
| How
is He going to reply? He is in big trouble. “Show me the coin,” is the
Lord’s answer. He is telling the crowd that He does not have the
Emperor’s coins, they do. The possession of the coin is the implicit
acknowledgement of the Roman Sovereignty. “Whose image is this, Caesars?
Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things
that are God’s.” The answer infuriated them; Jesus made them look like
fools again. |
| Their
carefully laid plans had badly misfired. In one sense, that answer did
not settle anything. He did not tell them what belonged to Caesar and
what belonged to God. He knew that would change in every age, Jesus
never laid down rules and regulations. He lays down principles, that is
why His teaching is timeless. He gives us the principle, then tells us
to think. Figure it out for ourselves. In a way, that is what He is
doing in today’s gospel. |
| He
makes His appeal not to some lofty principle, but to common sense. The
implication is that the coin has Caesar’s picture on it, give it to him.
But the most important line in today’s gospel is, give to God what is God’s.
God does not want taxes, He does not need your vote. He does not need
you to take up arms in His defense. But, God does deserve your heart and
conscience. These should never be given to a human institution or even
to a human relationship. |
| Your
greatest love, your greatest loyalty belongs to God. The Roman coin was
stamped with the image of Caesar. The human heart is stamped with the
image of God. We are made in His image and likeness. Perhaps, the
question is, “Shall we, can we, do we give to God what is God’s?” We all
at some time in life have to make decisions; do we serve God or Caesar,
good or evil? Being human, we sometimes make bad choices, and we ask
the question. What should I do? |
| What
must I do to be authentic? To live the life God has called me to live.
An old Indian was sharing his wisdom with his grandson. He told the
grandson that we have two wolves inside us who struggle with each other.
One is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other is the wolf of
fear, greed and hatred. “Which wolf will win, grandfather?” asked the
grandson. The wise old Indian said, “Whichever you feed, whichever one
you encourage.” Ask yourselves, who comes first in my life? Is Christ
top of your “top ten” list? If not, why not? |
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