Dear Parish Family,

    The Gospel for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 22:15-21) describe how the Pharisees attempt to “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."

    While our Lord’s language may seem strong, but accurate (i.e. “you hypocrites”),
he is nonetheless still trying to bring those opposed to him into the fold. He is truly always the Good Shepherd and, while time may be running out for his enemies, he will not cease laboring to rescue the sheep who have gone astray.

    Still, our Lord responds wonderfully to the attempt to trap him. The question posed to Jesus is intended to force him to take either a position contrary to that held by the majority of the people or one that will bring him into conflict with Roman authorities. Interestingly, the Herodians would favor the payment of the tax, while the Pharisees would not. The Herodians were “partisans and courtiers of the reigning dynasty of the Herods. Though they were Jews in religion, their spirit was Gentile. They conspired with their enemies the Pharisees against Christ (New American Bible, p. 416 – 1970, 1986, 1991 Catholic Book Publishing Co.).”

    Jesus tells them, in effect, that those who willingly use the coin that is Ceasar’s (i.e.
the emperor Tiberius at the time) should repay Caesar in kind. Indeed, those who have hypocritically asked about tax in respect to its relation to the law of God should instead be concerned with doing the good deeds that are due to God. Ultimately, Our Lord’s answer to their question avoids taking sides in the question of the lawfulness of  the tax (observations drawn from commentary on Matthew 22:15-21 in New American Bible, 1970, 1986, 1991).

   Ultimately, we owe all to God. All good things come from God. May we offer him ourselves every day in prayer and in loving concern for our neighbor. Let’s pray for truly thankful hearts and truly render unto God what belongs to God.

  God bless you!

  Fr. Dan Redmond