As is often the case, questions asked lead us
to the impact and wisdom of Jesus Christ. This week’s passage from Matthew is a great example. We hear three questions:
• Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Cesar or not?
• Why are you hypocrites testing me?
• Whose image and whose inscription are on the coin that pays the tax?
The tax in question is the census tax, a per per- son tax by the Roman government of one denari- us. If he answers yes, then he could be perceived as in collusion with Rome and thus justifying Ro- man occupation and oppression of the Jews; not looked upon kindly by Jews. On the other hand, if he answers no he could be suspected of revolu- tionary sentiment against Rome.
The questions come from Jewish religious leaders who are trying to trap him. They are also in reac- tion to the recent stories that Jesus has told – sto- ries that incriminate them. These powerful stories have painted them as not realizing that newcom- ers and non-Jews are getting paid the same as they are in the vineyard of life; as not caring for the same vineyard that has been entrusted to them as the son who says he will work in the vineyard but does not back up his words with ac- tion; and as not respecting God’s invitation to the banquet of the kingdom.
No wonder they want to trap and silence Jesus!
His brilliant answer is, “Repay to Caesar what be- longs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” One of the versions of this passage uses the word ‘render to Caesar … render to God.’ Render im- plies to give. Repay has a different connotation. That difference may provide interesting reflection from us who hear it and attempt to live it.
So let us return to the question that headlines this piece. What belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God? Well for a significant period of history, the Roman government more or less ruled the world. It was very powerful. However, in the big, long picture of history, their rule was a mere fraction of
time. Did they make significant political and cultur- al impacts on the world? Yes. Did they contribute to art and architecture? Yes.
However, the very object at the center of this interaction between conniving religious leaders and the human manifestation of God is symbolic in many ways. Will the coin last forever? No. Will the Romans and Caesar rule forever? No. The coin, Caesar and Roman rule epitomize all that is temporary in life.
As we contemplate what is God’s, we can be challenged to ask what is not God’s. Repaying
to Caesar or any physical entity, no matter how significant they are at present, in the end, is tem- porary.
Repaying to God ushers us into a realm of stew- ardship. If we believe that everything we have is a gift of God, is rooted in God and somehow has come from God, then what we repay/give back, even during our short lifetimes, can be eternal and lasting.
Two additional passages of scripture this week may shed further light on this. First from Paul’s letter to the Romans proclaimed at Mass this past Tuesday (Romans 1:20), “Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be under- stood and perceived in what He has made.” And, from the first reading this Sunday from Isaiah (45:5-6), “It is I who arm you, though you knew me not so … people may know that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, there is no other.”
You may remember that in September we cel- ebrated the month-long annual ecumenical prayer and action “Season of Creation” to promote eco- logical principles. The Season of Creation ended on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis Assisi. On that day, Pope Francis published an exhortation, Laudate Deum – “Praise God” as a follow-up to Laudato Si’ which focused on care for the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions of the relationship between God, hu- mans, and the Earth. To learn more, I encourage you to visit laudatosimovement.org.