Caesar or God

October 22, Sunday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary time
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 45:1–4-6, 1 Thessalonians 1–5, Matthew 22:15–21

One who respects God respects all authority, for all authority comes from God. Once, a Christian teacher was traveling on a flight. Sitting next to him was an atheist. Sitting next to him were his children and grandchildren, who were traveling with him on the plane. Every few minutes, one of his children would inquire about his needs. They would go close to him and ask him if he needed food or drink, or if he was comfortable. The atheist commented, “The respect your children and grandchildren show you is wonderful. Mine don’t show me that respect. The teacher replied, “Think about it; to my children, I am one step closer to our first parents, whom God created.

We believe in a loving God who created us and sustains us. But to your children and grandchildren, you are one step closer to being an ape because you don’t believe in God and his marvelous works of creation. It is true. If we truly believe in and respect God, who is our beginning and our end, then we will truly respect our parents, elders, and all authorities. Because all authority comes from God

In the gospel, according to Saint Matthew, chapter 22, verse 21, Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus said this as an answer to a question, which was a trap. Pharisees and their disciples with the Herodians asked, ‘Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? If Jesus had responded yes, then it would have looked like he was supporting Caesar. That would make him an enemy of the people. If he had said no, he would have been considered an enemy of the state.

Jesus answers in a way that links our respect for God with our respect for human authority. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. A sensible taxation system is necessary for the government to function. His message was that if you are avoiding paying taxes, then you are sinning against God because God ordered the state for our benefit.

In the book of Isaiah, chapter 45 verse 1, we read, “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped.” God chooses whom he will choose for his purpose. He promises those he has chosen to go before his people, and he will equip them for the mission for which he has called them. These verses again tell us that God empowers his chosen ones with power and authority.

Priority is for God, for all human authority comes from God. Let us therefore give honor and glory to God and respect all forms of authority on earth.

Let us proclaim with the psalmist, “Give the Lord glory and power, for he will judge the people in fairness."