Today's Reflections
Paying Taxes to the Emperor
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Mk 12:13-17
13Some Pharisees and Herodians [were sent to Jesus] to ensnare him in his speech. 14They
came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and
that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a
person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or
should we not pay?” 15Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” 17So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.
Reflection:
You are a truthful man.
Though the compliment the Pharisees pay to Jesus is insincere, it is
nevertheless true: “You are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do
not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with
the truth.” This is an accurate picture of Jesus the teacher. All
Christian teachers and indeed all followers of Jesus should strive to be
like that.
The
teaching of Jesus, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God
what belongs to God,” shows the wisdom and astuteness of Jesus. He
teaches that Caesar is not a god. Not everything is due to him. It is to
God that everything is due. We should give earthly authorities their
due, but we should give to God our all.
If one must repay to Caesar
what belongs to Caesar,
why does the Church speak
on politics and political issues?
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