Reflection for Sunday October 18, Twenty- ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 22:15-21

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:

What belongs to God and what belongs to Caesar? 

What belongs to God is everything that we own including this life that we have. And what belongs to Caesar the roman governor during that time which represents the government that we have right now? What belongs to Caesar are the duties and taxes that we are obliged to pay. 

The Pharisees were always critical of Jesus because they saw Jesus as a threat to their dominance. This is the reason why they’d been plotting against Him (Mt 12:14) and our gospel episode today is part of their elaborate plan. But Jesus was aware of their dangerous scheme against Him; He knew their detailed plan to unconscionably kill Him. 

So, they ask Jesus this very elementary question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"  They thought that they would be able to pin Him down with this question. Since if Jesus would say that it is lawful the people would get angry with Him. Because paying this tax was abhorred by the people thus it will harm His reputation as a charismatic leader. If Jesus would say that it is unlawful then He would be persecuted by the powerful roman government of that time. 

In the minds of the Pharisees it seems that Jesus has no way out in this situation. But Jesus knew beforehand about their immoral plan. Therefore He said to them:"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites! So He asked for the coin used to pay the tax and He said: Whose image is on the coin? And they said, Caesar! Jesus said to them give to Caesar what is his and to God what belongs to God and once again Jesus is able to extricate Himself from this wicked scheming of the Pharisees.

Jesus knows everything what is in our hearts: Our devious and wicked pretensions. Our plans to use God for our own selfish interest and our many more evil thoughts, He knows everything about it. In other words, we cannot hide anything from God and we surely can’t fool HIM. 

Jesus knows everything what is in our hearts: Our devious and wicked pretensions. Our plans to use God for our own selfish interest and our many more evil thoughts, He knows everything about it. In other words, we cannot hide anything from God and we surely can’t fool HIM.  

Let us also honestly give the tax that is due to the authorities let us not try to deceitfully avoid it for this is our obligation to the government. And the most important is we must give God what is rightfully His. What are these? Let us give help to our church, let us extend help to the poor in wealth and spirit and most of all, let us give our everything to God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas