Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 22:15-21), the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” The Jewish people were living under Roman rule, and many resented having to pay taxes to a foreign government. The question was meant to put Jesus in a no-win situation. If He said they should pay taxes, He could be seen as siding with the Romans. If He said they should not, He could be accused of rebelling against Rome.
But Jesus sees through their trap and gives a simple yet profound answer: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21).
So, what belongs to Caesar? As citizens, we have responsibilities to our community and country. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that these include paying taxes, exercising our right to vote, and defending our country (CCC 2240). We may disagree with our government at times, but we still have a responsibility to work for the good of society.
As Catholics, we live in this world, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. We cannot simply withdraw from society or leave the work of building a better world to others.
But what about the second part of Jesus’ answer? What belongs to God?
Everything belongs to God. Our lives, our gifts, our time, our talents, and our very selves come from Him. We were created in His image and likeness, and we were made for Him.
This is where Jesus’ words really challenge us. It is one thing to pay our taxes and fulfill our civic duties. It is another to give God the place He deserves in our lives. We cannot allow popular opinion, political pressure, or the expectations of society to lead us away from our faith. We should respect legitimate civil authority and work for the common good, but when something conflicts with God’s law, our first responsibility is to remain faithful to Him.
But being faithful to God means more than simply avoiding what is wrong in the world. We are called to bring Christ into the world! We do this in our homes, at work, in our schools, in our neighborhoods, and even in the public square. We do it through our words, our choices, and the way we treat others.
Of course, this is not always easy. There will be times when standing up for our faith makes us uncomfortable or unpopular. There will be pressure to keep our beliefs to ourselves or compromise what we know to be true. But we cannot be afraid to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Several years ago, I used a line from the musical Hamilton in my homily: “I’m not throwing away my shot!” Alexander Hamilton was singing about his opportunity to make a difference. We have an opportunity, too. Each day, we have chances to share our faith, show Christ’s love, and make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Let’s not waste those opportunities. Let’s give Caesar what is due to Caesar, but never forget who we belong to. May we give God what belongs to Him: our whole hearts and our lives, lived faithfully for Jesus Christ.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Father Leo
