The Question About Paying Taxes [October 16, 2011]

The Sunday Gospel [October 16, 2011]

Matthew 22:15-21

15Then the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech.16They 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.17* Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”18Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. 20He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” 21They replied, “Caesar’s.”* At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” 22When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.

Reflection

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” ~ Jesus in v. 21

Jesus as we see by his answer, evades the question, rather than solve it. Nevertheless what he says is truthful; we must give to Caesar what is his due, but we must also give to God what is his. In telling us that we should give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, Jesus, of course, tells us about the importance of obeying civil authorities. But what does he mean when he says, “Give to God what is God’s?”

There is a word in the latter part of the Gospel that helps us to understand all this better. When Jesus talks to the Pharisees, he uses the word, “repay.” “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God’s.” What Jesus wants to say, it seems, is that we have to repay God for all the things he has given us in the past and for all the ways he blesses us each day in our present life. How do we repay God for his blessings? Of course, we can never repay God fully for all that he gives us. But at least we can try our best to show our gratitude by living a life full of love.

In his wisdom, Jesus gives an excellent answer to the Pharisees. However, he goes far beyond what they expected by telling them – and us – of our need to be grateful for everything that God has given to us in the past and for all that he has is giving us now.

Let us pray that God would help us to love him in gratitude for all that he does for us each day of our life.

Credits: Fr. John Seland, SVD; New Reflections on the Sunday Gospels, excerpts

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).