Give God His Due
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
If the Herodians are supporters of King Herod, then it makes sense that the Pharisees team up with them in this Gospel. It is not because they agree on faith or the important issues of life; it’s because they are trying to trap Jesus. By approaching him from both sides, they are trying to trap him into speaking against the Law of the Jews or the Law of the Romans. Very often today, Catholics might feel similarly trapped. We are obliged to pay taxes in a country where our national laws contradict, and sometimes directly oppose, our religious laws and freedom.
Jesus, as always, gives us a perfect answer: “…repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” The Church teaches that Christians have a very important role to play in the public square. As Christians we have an obligation to give to our public authorities what they are due; to respect taxes for the support of the common good (Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et spes, 75). But Christians must remember that first we are to give God His due. So, if the laws of a nation oppose the laws of God, it is a Christians duty to first follow the laws of God. Christians today have an especially important witness to provide in standing up for God’s laws against abortion, against the redefinition of marriage and family, against false ideas about gender, and for religious freedom. Our role in the public square is needed. It is a holy duty to witness to the truth in our country. We should each ask, how is our faith lived out in the public square? What more might we do more? What might we do better?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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