Gospel Reflection Oct 18 – Fr. Black
Sunday, October 18
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 22:15-21
Gospel:
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.”
Gospel Reflection:
The bible is the most often quoted book in history. This is because the
inspired Word of God speaks so directly to our lives and our daily
experiences. This weekend’s Gospel contains one such quote “Repay to
Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”. This
speaks to how we must often determine where our attention, as well as our
resources, should be focused. Rather than falling into the Pharisees’ trap,
Jesus uses a coin to respond to their question. He says that as people
living in this world, we have a responsibility to support the efforts of society.
While we must respond to this responsibility, our ultimate responsibility lies
with God. John’s gospel tells us that we are in this world, not of this world
(John 17:14-16).
By responding as He did, Jesus was not putting Caesar on the same level
as God. He is just acknowledging that our commitment to God does not
release us from the commitments we have in our society. We are to
support one another, especially the vulnerable and those in need. It is in
this world that we grow in holiness and inspire others to do the same.
When our faith is lived within our daily lives, we lift our community closer to
God.
Fr. James Black