Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Homily for October 16, 2005
Liturgical Year A-Cycle I
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Joshua Nyoni
Topic: Recognizing the Sovereignty of the Supreme
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Gospel
Mt 22:15-21
The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.  They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"  Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?  Show me the coin that pays the census tax."  Then they handed him the Roman coin.  He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"  They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
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“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”
What does Jesus mean by this? Does he mean that there is so much for Caesar and so much for God? Does he mean that we can divide it out as children divide sweets - one for you and one for me: one for Caesar and one for God? He can hardly mean that there are some things that belong to Caesar and other things that belong to God. That would suggest that reality is divisible into the secular and the sacred.  As if things we do for the State have nothing to do with God. That can hardly be right! Because life is all of one piece. In the deepest sense, all of it belongs to God. So, what is our Lord about? What does he mean?
 
The question from the Pharisees is not a genuine one.  It is a trap: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”[Mt 22:17]. If Jesus says “Yes”, then he is all for the Roman domination and is in trouble with the Jewish patriots. If he says “No”, he is in trouble with the Roman authorities and liable to be arrested.
 
Does Jesus fall into the trap? No! He asks for a denarius- the Roman coin used to pay the tax in question. What he is saying in effect is- 'I don’t have one – You do. You have Caesar’ coin, his currency.  If you are using his system, accepting his rule, recognizing his empire – then give him his money.' Interestingly, Jesus does not give them a straight answer because he knew that the question was not a straight question. It was a trap and therefore he avoided it.
 
Then Jesus adds something that is straight. He adds a direct challenge: “Render to God the things that are God’s”. What he is saying is that the obligation to Caesar stands under and is judged by a higher obligation - to recognize the Sovereignty of the Supreme – to give what is due to the greatest emperor of all. It is an unexpected way of reminding them of the first and greatest commandment “You must do homage to the Lord your God, him alone you must serve” [Lk 4:8]
 
What do we learn from this? Surely, Jesus’ answer to the question was an answer full of wisdom and instruction. We learn that "authority" is twofold; having an earthly and human aspect, and a heavenly and divine aspect. We have a twofold duty of obedience: to human laws and to the laws of God. But what happens when there is Conflict? If this happens we must resolve it without compromising our primary obligation to God. Christians had to do this throughout history. For instance, they did it in the Roman times when thousands of Christians accepted death rather than worship the emperor.
 
Just as the coin had the image of Caesar, we too have to be aware that we are made in the image and likeness of God. We are God’s tribute money – little coins bearing the image and likeness of the Divine emperor. That is the reason that we should give to God his due in our lives. Do we do that?

May these thoughts help us reach the God of Jesus Christ.