Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

 

My dear parishioners,

 

God is Good!!!  All the Time!!!  And All the Time!!!  God is Good!!!

 

The first half of Isaiah’s book ended with the distressing news that one day the kingdom of Judah will collapse before Babylon’s armies, sending many of its people into exile (39:5–7). This tragic news came about because king and people refused to accept Isaiah’s repeated invitation to seek security first in God. Now, however, things have changed dramatically. The prophet comforts the people with the news that God is introducing a time of restoration. The challenge for them this time is to put their trust in God’s plan, to leave the land of exile, and to return to their homeland.

 

Today’s Gospel continues to show Jesus at odds with the representatives of Judaism in a controversy about paying the Roman census tax. The Pharisees resented this tax while the Herodians supported it as well as King Herod. We are told from the beginning that the Pharisees are attempting to trap Jesus. They think that his answer to their question will certainly cause him trouble with one group or the other. They have grossly underestimated Jesus’ skills.

 

The setup. The Pharisees are attempting to trap Jesus with a political question about paying the census tax. They have brought in some Herodians to complicate the matter even further. Beginning with the  title teacher, they suggest great respect for Jesus. In fact, this is all a phony attempt to embarrass Jesus publicly and shame him. All this hypocrisy leads to their main question.

 

Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Jesus immediately sees through their hypocrisy, knowing that however he answers will cause him trouble with one side or the other. He makes no attempt to cover up his disgust for the Pharisees. Instead, he requests that the Pharisees produce the one denarius coin used for paying the tax.

 

The answer is not an answer. The Pharisees immediately produce the one denarius coin needed for paying this tax. Jesus then asks the Pharisees whose image is on the coin. They admit it is Caesar’s. Also, the inscription on the coin is Caesar’s: “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus.” Jews should not carry these coins or use them. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees is very ambiguous. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” What does that mean? Should they simply give back to Caesar the one coin that is his? Jews believed everything belongs to God. Does that include the one denarius coin? Jesus has flipped the coin. The Pharisees must call heads or tails!

 

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org.©2023. All rights reserved

 

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius