In our Sunday’s gospel, the Jewish authorities sought to
trap Jesus in a religious-state issue. This is the issue regarding paying
taxes: whether to PAY TAX or to practice TAX EVASION. Jesus quoted the saying: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are
Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Actually, the Jews themselves
resented their foreign rulers and despised paying taxes to Caesar. They posed a
dilemma to test Jesus to see if he was loyal to them and to their understanding
of religion. Whatever answer Jesus would give, there’s no way out! Jesus avoided
their trap by confronting them with the image of a coin. Well, it comes from
Caesar, return it back to Caesar!
In our society,
we oftentimes hear that there’s SEPARATION of Church and State (as regards
their FUNCTION). People oftentimes ask, why then the Church “meddles” or
“interferes” with POLITICS (STATE/ GOVERNMENT concerns)? The answer is, because
they SHARE the SAME constituents. To realize, the CITIZENS of the NATION are also
the FAITHFUL of the CHURCH. Right? Also, as far as the role of the Church, it
cannot just keep silent on certain SOCIAL-MORAL-ETHICAL issues.
Jesus
practically mentioned in the gospel, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and
to God the things that are God's." In connection to this, breadwinners of
families are constantly being reminded, that they have to give to their work
(job) what is due to their work (job); and to give to their family what is due
to their family. Some people may rationalize (reason out) with this words, “Anyway,
I do my work for my family”. But we need to draw a line to clearly distinguish
times devoted to one’s work with times devoted to one’s family. There has to be
a healthy balance between the two, besides FAMILY BONDING times should be
encouraged.
Now, on our part, have we really
given “the things to God, that are God's.”? To realize again, almost EVERYTHING
BELONGS to GOD, that is, if we acknowledge it, and we give God the credit. This
reminds me of an incident when once I was a chaplain in a hospital, when nurses
assessed their patients as IMPROVING. The natural impression and comment t they
would say is, “this is due to the wonders of medicines!” I would challenge them
by asking, where or who is the source of all these medicines after all???
The gospel also makes us assess our
STEWARDSHIP in Christ. Do we do our part to support our parish/church? Do we
give what should dutifully be given? We hear sometimes that in certain
non-Roman Catholic denominations, they really meticulously practice or are
particular in giving their 10% contribution from their salary or income. For
the Roman Catholic, we do not impose this, for we leave it to the discretion of
the member-donor. Love freely given and not forced is sweeter.
On this MISSION Sunday weekend, it
is nostalgic for me to recall when once I was a missionary in Papua New Guinea
that it is a great delight to receive something from the people themselves
whether a card, monetary gift, financial assistance and other gestures
which can mean “they care for their
priests”, especially those in the mission field.
MAY Christ, the great MISSIONARY,
“reaching out” from heaven to earth, be our great example to also REACH OUT to
others in our own way.
