Gospel: Matthew
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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Reflection:
Why do people
protest against their government? People protest because they feel that they
are not being given what is due them by their government.
For example, people
expects the following from their government leaders: Honest governance,
Effective delivery of basic services, Leadership, competence and so forth. The
moment these expectations are not meet there would be discontent sooner or
later. However, if these expectations
are meet there would be peace and progress and they would honestly pay tax to
the government.
In the gospel Jesus
is asked: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Jesus
asked for a coin and said: "Whose image is this and whose
inscription?" they replied: “Caesar’s” then Jesus uttered this famous
line: “So, repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to
God (Matthew 22:21)."
All along Jesus knew
about their deceitful plan to entrap Him based on what He would say, that’s why
He told them: "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites (Matthew 22:18)? So
Jesus gave them a wisdom filled answer. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God (Matthew 22:21)."
If the government is
meeting our expectations let us do our duty by rightfully paying our taxes and
by obeying its laws. But we also have to be vigilant so that we would not be
abused and fooled by our government. Whose leaders mandate emanates from its
people whom they swore to serve.
What is our
obligation towards God? We have to always honor Him by following His two
greatest commands: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind. And Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew
22:37, 39).”
We show our love for
God by our pious presence at Holy Mass, by reading the Bible and other reading
materials that relate to God, by praying the Rosary and by our prayers that
emanates from our hearts. We show our love for our fellowmen by helping them in
whatever way possible.
We always have to
honor our obligation for God for the simple reason that unlike government who
often times does not satisfactorily fulfill its obligation towards us. God has
always been fulfilling His obligations for us.
Are you able to
fulfill your obligation for God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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