"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what belongs to God."
Today, in this world, it seems that God's image is blurred or has even disappeared completely. People and nations seem to be immune to who their neighbor is and how to treat them or see the image of God in their faces.
You pay your traffic ticket because you do not want to go to jail; you pay your electric and other bills because you do not want to be charged overdue fees. On the other hand, you tip the waitress, paperboy, and those who do you a favor because it's the right thing to do; everyone does it, and you feel good about it. Mostly, you do these things because you want to avoid the end results, which are usually negative, and sometimes it makes it very inconvenient for you. This is giving to 'Caesar what belongs to Caesar,' as our Gospel reminds us today.
The other part of that quote of Jesus to the ones trying to trick Him is to 'give to God what belongs to God.' Do we really make an effort to do so?
Giving to God for some Catholics means to go to Church on Sunday and place a few dollars or coins in the basket and feel good about it, then sit back for the rest of the week and believe we gave God what belongs to Him. We think we won't go to hell because we did our duty and attended Mass.
Are we not concerned that giving to God what belongs to Him means not only Mass on Sunday but living, working, and loving others? Our behavior must reflect His image to all we encounter, beginning with our families.
Sister Celeste Hupert, CSFN
