29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Isaiah 45:1,4-6

Psalm 95(96)

1Thesalonicians 1:1-5

Matthew 22:15-21

GOD AND CAESAR 

We celebrate today the World Mission Sunday on the theme: “Here am I, send me” (Is. 6:8). In the first reading, God calls king Cyrus, the king of Persia, “his anointed”, because he appointed him to liberate Israel from the exile in Babylon. In the second reading, Saint Paul appreciates the faith, charity and hope of the Christians of Thessalonica. He tells them that he knows that God has chosen them not only by the word of the Gospel but also in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the gospel passage, Jesus defeats the ill-motivated delegation of the Pharisees and Herodians who took counsel together to trap him by asking him: "is it lawful, yes or no, to pay taxes to Caesar, the emperor?" (Mt 22,15-21). Knowing their malicious intentions, Jesus requested for a coin used for the tax, and replied: "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

We may draw three lessons from today’s gospel. First, not every person who praises you wants you good. The Pharisees and Herodians used a flattering and linguistic foreplay to praise Jesus, but their inner aim was to trap him so that they might discredit him. But Jesus was clever than they were. So be careful and wise not to fall into the traps of malicious and ill-intended people.

Second, service to God is not incompatible with service to the nation. A good Christian is also a good citizen. He knows when to pay his taxes to the State and when to pay his tithes to the Church. He loves and serves the Church not much less than he loves and serves his nation. So we must keep the balance with integrity, responsibility and clear conscience.

Third, beyond the socio-political interpretations of this passage, the answer of Jesus touches on a fundamental aspect of our human identity. If the image of Caesar stamped on a coin means that the coin belongs to Caesar, then the image of God stamped on each and every human person means that each and every one belongs to God. It is therefore befitting to give honour and praise to God and lead lives worthy of our identity. May he bless and keep all of us. Amen