“The
world says: "You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the
rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your
needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they
believe that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide,
for the poor, envy and murder.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The
Brothers Karamazov
Gospel
Text: (MT 22:15-21)
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."
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."
God respects our freedom. This is why
Jesus asked the Pharisees and Herodians in today's Gospel reading, "Whose
head is this, and whose name?" Jesus poses a profound question that
invites us to reflect deeper on the implications of their confusion concerning
the many tensions between God and the world.
This tension between God and the world
prompts us to ask the same question. We face the same dilemma in choosing
between God and the world. How do we "give the Lord glory and honor"
in the midst of our daily preoccupations in the world? How do we fully serve
God in the midst of our many other secular and necessary obligations? Do we
reject God when we work very hard for our families?
Ultimately Jesus asks us the
same questions he asked the Pharisees and Herodians in today's Gospel reading,
"Whose head is this, and whose name?" "Whose image is stamped in
our hearts, God or the world?"
Realistically speaking we are not
being asked to let go of our belongings and properties to serve God only. Jesus
asks us about our priorities in our lives. Do we give first priority to
"giving the Lord glory and honor?" The question calls us to reflect
on what we do and whether they lead us to or away from God.
St. Ignatius of Loyola calls this type
of reflection "discernment." For indeed "Man is created to
praise, reverence and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.
The other things on the face of the earth are created for man to help him in
attaining the end for which he is created." (St. Ignatius of Loyola,
Spiritual Exercises, First Principle and Foundation.)
Our dilemma is not any tension between
God and the world. Rather it is how we make use of the world in praising,
reverencing and serving God.
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