Readings: Isaiah 45:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1–5; Matthew 22:15–21
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
There is a question that every one of us must answer, not only today but throughout our lives: To whom do I truly belong, and what am I giving back to God for all that He has done for me? We live in a world where almost everything has a price. We work to earn money, pay taxes, meet our family responsibilities, and fulfil our obligations to society. We are concerned about our jobs, our businesses, our children’s education, and our future. These responsibilities are important, and God does not ask us to neglect them. However, amid all these activities, we must ask ourselves a deeper question: Are we giving God the place He deserves in our lives? The readings of this Sunday invite us to reflect on God’s authority, His action in human history, and our responsibility to live as people who belong to Him.
In the first reading, we hear God speaking about Cyrus, the king of Persia. Surprisingly, Cyrus was not an Israelite, yet God chose to use him as an instrument to bring freedom to His people. Through Cyrus, the Israelites would receive the opportunity to return from exile and rebuild their lives. God declares that He is the Lord and that there is no other. This teaches us a very important lesson: God’s power is not limited by our expectations, our background, or our understanding of how He should work. Sometimes, we expect God to help us only through people who share our faith, people who pray like us, or people who belong to our community. Yet God can work through unexpected people and circumstances to accomplish His purposes. Perhaps someone who does not share our religious beliefs may offer us kindness when we are in difficulty. Perhaps a colleague, a neighbor, or even a stranger may become an instrument of God’s goodness in our lives. We must therefore learn not to put limits on God. At the same time, this reading reminds those who exercise authority, that power is a responsibility, not a personal possession. Whether we are parents, teachers, employers, religious leaders, or public officials, we must remember that our positions are entrusted to us for the good of others. Authority should be used to serve, not to exploit; to build up, not to destroy; and to protect the vulnerable, not to oppress them.
In the second reading, St Paul gives thanks for the Christian community in Thessalonica. He remembers their work of faith, their labour of love, and their endurance in hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice that Paul does not speak about faith as something that exists only in words. He speaks about faith that works, love that labour, and hope that endures. This is the kind of Christianity God desires from us. It is possible to attend Mass every Sunday and still refuse to forgive someone who has offended us. It is possible to pray beautifully in church but speak harshly to our family members at home. It is possible to carry a Bible and yet be dishonest in business, unjust to employees, or indifferent to the suffering of the poor. Our Christian faith must go beyond our lips. It must enter our homes, workplaces, relationships, and decisions. A genuine Christian is not known only by the prayers he or she recites, but also by the love, honesty, patience, and compassion shown to others. Think of a mother who sacrifices her comfort to care for her children, a worker who refuses to cheat even when nobody is watching, a young person who stands up for what is right despite pressure from friends, or a neighbor who helps a family in difficulty without expecting anything in return. These are examples of faith expressed through action. St Paul also reminds us of the importance of hope. Life is not always easy. We experience disappointments, sickness, financial difficulties, broken relationships, and unanswered prayers. Yet Christian hope teaches us to remain faithful because our lives are held in God’s hands. Let us therefore ask ourselves: If someone observed my daily life, would that person recognize the presence of Christ in me?
In the Gospel, the Pharisees and the Herodians try to trap Jesus with a difficult question: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar? The question was dangerous. If Jesus said that people should pay the tax, some would accuse Him of supporting Roman oppression. If He said they should not pay, He could be accused of opposing the Roman authorities. But Jesus sees through their intentions. He asks them to show Him the coin used for the tax. When they identify Caesar’s image on the coin, Jesus replies: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus’ answer is much deeper than a discussion about money or taxes. He reminds us that we have responsibilities both to society and to God. As responsible citizens, we should respect just laws, fulfil our legitimate obligations, work honestly, contribute to the common good, and care about the welfare of our communities. Our Christian faith should not make us irresponsible citizens. Rather, it should inspire us to become better citizens. However, Jesus also makes it clear that earthly authority is not absolute. Our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. No human power can rightfully take the place of God in our conscience or demand that we abandon what is true and morally right. But there is an even deeper meaning in this Gospel.
The coin bears Caesar’s image. But whose image do we bear? The Book of Genesis teaches us that, human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, while a coin may bear the image of an earthly ruler, every human person bears the image of the Creator. Money belongs to the world of economic exchange, but our lives belong to God. We may give money to support the Church, contribute to charitable causes, or help people in need. These are good and necessary acts. Yet God desires more than our money. He desires our hearts, our time, our talents, our choices, and our whole lives. Sometimes, we give God a little time on Sunday but give the rest of the week entirely to our ambitions. We may offer Him our prayers but withhold our forgiveness from those who have hurt us. We may give money to the Church but refuse to show kindness to someone who needs our help. The question is not simply, “Have I given something to God?” The deeper question is, “Have I given myself to God?” To give God what belongs to Him means allowing Him to guide our decisions, shape our character, influence our relationships, and direct our use of money and possessions. It means choosing honesty when dishonesty appears profitable, forgiveness when revenge seems attractive, generosity when selfishness is easier, and faithfulness when life becomes difficult. Amen.