(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)
October 19, 2014
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm 96
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Matthew 22:15-21
"Lord, we know you teach God's way sincerely."
The Lord teaches God's way with a hierarchy of values different from the Pharisees. The Pharisees teach that what matters is their Hebraic Law, which they see as above all; but, for Christ, the Father's love and His mercy is what is really greater than the Law. This Hebraic Law (all laws given by God through Moses and Jewish tradition) emphasizes the importance of rituals and liturgical legalities. So as the Pharisees tell Jesus that He does not follow the Law, Jesus defends Himself by saying that He came to fulfill the Law: to make His Spirit the law that frees man from sin and evil. It is a law not only based on Jewish legalities but a Law that is engraved in the heart of man. It is a Law based on faith in Christ.
When Jesus teaches from this perspective, the Pharisees and the Herodians of His time became increasingly hostile to His leadership. So these Jewish leaders try all means and ways to trap Him. One way they have done this is what the gospel presents this Sunday. The gospel shows how Jesus eludes the trap set by the Pharisees with the answer that obeying God need not conflict with the demands of the State (i.e., with Caesar and his taxation laws). His pronouncement of "give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's", makes one realize that following God's will need not necessarily conflict with the laws of a State. All that is necessary is to know what ought to be the focus of one's life and do what is required by the State.
The laws of any State are meant to bring order, peace and harmony to all individuals, families and institutions. This order brings basic services to the people, with respect to specific cultural differences. The laws of the Church has a mission to do the same, and much more: she teaches something universally true for all cultures. The Church follows Christ and acts as His light for the world - illuminating and guiding all the faithful with universal norms and truths. She provides the knowledge and wisdom to discern how each of the faithful should "give to Caesar what is Caesar's, [and] to give to God what is God's" (through her social encyclicals). It takes discipline to follow the counsel of Jesus, and to keep to a moral balance in one's relationship with both the Church and the State. Once the discipline is learned, one can live in a right relationship to God and the laws of the State.
Scripture quote:
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to God what is God's." (Matthew 22)
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