Sunday Reflections
29th Sunday year A
Caesar is a creature of God
✠A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 22:15-21
The Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap Jesus in what he said. And they sent their disciples to him, together with the Herodians, to say, ‘Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in an honest way, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you. Tell us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, ‘You hypocrites! Why do you set this trap for me? Let me see the money you pay the tax with.’ They handed him a denarius, and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s’ they replied. He then said to them, ‘Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’
1. Today’s readings focus on the place of God and civil authority in the life of believers. The first reading (Is 45,1,4-6) established in a clear manner that every authority comes from God. It is God who picks human beings and entrusts them with power over others on his behalf. It speaks of a pagan king Cyrus whom God picked and empowered even when he never knew the God of Israel.
2. In the gospel, the pharisees and the Herodians banded together to destroy Jesus by pitching him against the authority of Caesar on tax matter. They knew that not paying tax was punishable by death under the Roman Force of Occupation. They set trap for Jesus by wanting him to deny the payment of tax. They were sure to get Jesus into trouble either with the Jews who detest paying tax to Roman colonizers or with the Romans themselves because no matter the answer he gives, either of the parties must feel offended. Jesus in his intelligence used the opportunity to teach them that God and Caesar are not in opposition because Caesar is a handwork of God. “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” In this answer they were beaten hands down.
3. This saying of Jesus has come to be interpreted in different ways by different interest groups. The politicians use this text to argue that the Church and State have no common ground. Civil matters should concern the State and politicians while the Church should be concerned with religious matters. They forget that Caesar addresses himself as the son of God. If he is a son of God, he cannot be outside the authority of God. Things get even worse when some people in power claim that being son of God, they are entitled to what belongs to God. Every authority is exercised in the name of God. No earthly authority can rightly claim what belongs to God.
4. Some christians interprete this same text of giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar as justifying their compromising attitudes in life and their worship of other gods. They claim that they can worship God, giving him his dues and still be in alliance with other gods who demand their allegiance in the traditional religion. We see this in some Christians who get involved rituals to other gods and in secret cults. This is a confusion that every Christian must avoid because God cannot share his glory with other gods. Today’s responsorial psalms says that all glory and honour should be given to God.
5. Know that God and Caesar cannot compete for your allegiance; what creature can compete with his creator? When civil authority or exigences of traditional religion come in conflict with your worship of God, the priority must go to God. Justifying double dealings in the name of giving to Caesar what belongs to him is a clear sign of lack of faith. Do not allow any strange teaching to lead you astray.
© Vitalis Anaehobi
18/10/26
St. Luke, pray for us!
