Isaiah 45, 1, 4-6; Psalm 96; I Thessalonians 1, 1-5b; Matthew 22, 15-21 By +Guy Sansaricq
In today’s sacred readings we find these well known words of Jesus: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus’ purpose in making this statement was above all to foil the plot of the Pharisees who were setting up a trap to catch him. Had Jesus said “pay the tax to Caesar” he would be widely denounced as a collaborator of the hated Roman invaders and right away lose the people’s favor. On the other hand, had he said “Don’t pay the tax,” he would be delivered to the Roman authorities as a dangerous rebel. Jesus’ concise and cleverly answer left his enemies speechless.
But there is a deeper meaning to the axiom. God is the first Lord. Homage is to be rendered to Him in the first place. Once this is established, the rules and laws of society are contingent on the circumstances of time and place. Don’t expect God to come down and write the rules and regulations of every society. That is part of our human vocation.
But regardless of the social system that is adopted, we have inescapable obligations toward society and government. Practical answers about the validity of this rule or that rule will flow naturally from our radical loyalty to the Supreme Ruler. Once we lose this primary perspective, confusion reigns.
Our modern societies tend by enlarge to be secular if not atheistic. No wonder the overwhelming confusion that reigns in areas of human rights or about the direction to give to the economy! No wonder that there is so much violence and wars! We need to take very seriously these words of Jesus: “Render to God what belongs to God.” From this will flow PEACE!