From Fr. Eric Asamoah
In the first reading, God uses Cyrus, a foreign king, to help Israel. God sovereignty means that He is in control of all aspects of our lives, from the beginning to the end. Nothing is beyond His reach. He is the Lord of all nations, all history, all hearts, even those that do not yet know Him. This understanding should bring us comfort, knowing that we are not alone as His people. However, this does not diminish our responsibility to make wise choices and decisions, nor does it absolve us from the consequences of our actions.
Jesus challenges in us the choice we must make in the Gospel of today. The Pharisees and Herodians who were political enemies come together and attempt to trap Jesus with a political question about paying taxes to Caesar.
Beginning with false flattery on their lips; “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” How long did it take them to come up with this dilemma? How much time do people waste planning how to undo someone of whom they are jealous?
They ask a question to which, they believe — there is no safe answer: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
Rather than attempt an answer to the puzzle, Jesus looks beyond their words to the intentions of their hearts, and seeing the evil therein, he says to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
Jesus exposes their malice and reframes the issue: the coin bears Caesar’s image, but our lives bear God’s image. Jesus’ reply shows, the choice is not about avoiding responsibility to Caesar, but about ensuring that God’s claim on us is primary.
Therefore, civic responsibilities have their place, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. The central truth is that our ultimate allegiance is to the God whose image we bear.
This Sunday invites the congregation to reflect on how they balance civic duties with the call to discipleship. Jesus’ teaching does not divide life into sacred and secular but reminds us that God’s claim on us is total. We fulfill earthly responsibilities without letting them overshadow our identity as God’s people.
Give the Lord glory and honor. Tell His glory among nations, among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.