10/22/2023 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 22:15-21

15 The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
16 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.
17 Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
18 Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin.
20 He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”
21 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.”

10/22/2023 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reflection: Matthew 22:15-21

The gospel reading above is one of the interrogation stories with the purpose of embarrassing Jesus and at the same time have a reason to eliminate Him. During that time, the Jews were under the control of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus whose empire was considered one of the greatest in the history of the world. Yet in Israel, trouble was brewing. Nationalistic fervor was on the rise. Ordinary Jews hated the Romans, not only because of oppression but more importantly, because these foreigners do not share their belief in one God.

Jesus has become a popular preacher who spread the message of the Kingdom of God and whose lifestyle was different from the religious leaders at that time. These leaders consider Him a troublemaker. So they came looking for a way to trap Him and find a reason to stop Him from destroying their centuries-old tradition. Their question about paying taxes to Caesar would surely put Jesus in a bind or so they thought. If He agrees that paying taxes to the Roman Empire is legitimate, He will alienate His followers and He will be considered a traitor. If He says paying taxes to Caesar is not right then they will report Him to the Roman authorities for disobedience and possibly subversion.

The answer of Jesus was amazing. Instead of embarrassing Him, the “interrogators” were silenced by the His wisdom. The coin with the emperor’s image does not belong to God. Give it to whom it belongs. Then never forget to give glory to the One true God. The religious leaders were known as lovers of money. Jesus can read what’s in their heart. They dislike to pay taxes because they themselves like to keep the money for themselves.

Let us pray that we may not be attached to earthly matters and instead focus ourselves to give glory to God in everything we do.