22 October, Sunday – Rendering to Caesar as a Form of Worship to God

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 45:1,4-6
1 Ths 1:1-5
Mt 22:15-21

“…give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar — and to God what belongs to God.”

In today’s gospel, we read about the account of how the Pharisees went and plotted to entangle Jesus in his words. The entanglement being referred to in this instance concerns the Roman law of the payment of census tax. If Jesus were to state that payment is not required, he would be contradicting the law of the land and considered a revolutionary in the eyes of Caesar and the Herodians. On the flip side, by encouraging the payment of tax, he would be considered a traitor to the Jewish cause and complicit to Caesar, which would be similar to how Matthew, the tax collector had lived. Either way, the Pharisees were trying to convict Jesus based on his opinions, and undo his influence and popularity amongst the Jewish community. While Jesus was able to cleverly weave his way past the malicious plot of the Pharisees in this instance, the underlying dilemma of Ecclesiastical Laws versus State Laws could still be evident in society today, after thousands of years.

Like many of the accounts and parables in the bible, Jesus left the question unanswered without addressing the scope, relationship or sphere of influence between God and State. If we ponder about the things that belong to God and those that belong to Caesar (or the State), the implications became very obvious. As Christians, how do we then address the quandary between Church teachings and State Laws?

Our understanding as Christians about God’s role and His sphere of influence is clear — God is the creator of all things, is all knowing and all powerful. Everything belongs to God, since He is the creator. Yet, He granted humans with the gift of free will to decide on a path for ourselves and liberty to make choices. If everything belongs to God, then whatever that belongs to humans are derivative and warranted from the creator. Nonetheless, each of us has our rights; every sovereign state has its rights, because God allows for that occurrence. If we believe that the claims on creation by the creator is total, then whatever that derives from the creator would only have a limited claim based on the sphere of influence which God allows for. Therefore, by recognizing the authority of the government and pledging our allegiance to the state, we are, in fact, rendering our obedience to God’s superior possession and authority if we truly believe that everything is owned by God. Rendering to the state through the adherence to its laws will thus be seen as an act of worship to God.

Church teachings often include principles of respecting and submitting to legitimate authority. In general, there is a recognition that whatever authority comes from God and it should be exercised in ways that promote justice, order and the common good. These include submissions to our employer, our country, and respecting hierarchy, not because of who they are in themselves, but because God has called us to that submission. Particularly in Catholicism, there is a concept of ‘legitimate authority’ where we are called to obey civil authorities and leaders within the Church, when their directives align with moral and ethical principles. Religious teachings can sometimes be nuanced and diverse, hence it is important to recognize the doctrinal authority of the Pope and the teaching authority of the Magisterium to provide guidance on doctrinal consistency, rather than dependent on one’s interpretation of ecclesiastical teachings.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Dylan Tan)

Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus, to you who obeyed your Father to the end. Teach us the meaning of obedience and draw our souls to comply with your will. While our worldly nature seeks one way, our spiritual nature beckons to you. Bless us with the strength to obey, that our souls may subdue both natures. Help us to seek favour in your eyes until we breathe our last. In your precious name we pray, Amen.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for being with us every single moment of our lives and guiding us to obedience, recognizing and respecting authority and hierarchy.