HOMILY FOR THE TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
BY: Fr. Augustine Ikechukwu Opara
(IS 45:1,4-6;1THES 1:1-5; MT 22:15-21
THEME: EVERY UNJUST LAW IS NO LAW
Our Gospel passage today ends with the words: ‘Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’ This famous statement has been interpreted in so many ways. As a way of driving religious authorities from “politics”, this is often cited. Those who still hold on to traditional practices and rituals, wanting to justify their acts often cite it, etc. Rulers use this to keep Church authority subservient to that of the nation.
For the Jews, there was no concept of any aspect of human life that was not in some way under God’s authority, as the Psalmist points out (Ps 24:1): “The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” This is demonstrated in particular by the first reading, in which the pagan king Cyrus is referred to as an instrument of God, even though he knows Him not. So, from a Jewish perspective, to see that quote as somehow indicating that there were aspects of society or human life over which God had no authority would be seen as a preposterous interpretation of that quote and would not be faithful to the Scriptural understanding of the Jews.
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Like Caesar’s coins, the things of this world are temporary. We know that we have a responsibility to render to the world those things that belong to it, like paying taxes, voting, and buying things to provide comfort and flourishing for our lives here on earth. These things are important, don’t get me wrong! So, go out there, and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s – but know that they are temporary.
I would venture to say that most of us don’t have too many problems giving Caesar his due, and in fact, you’re probably feeling like you give him enough already. That’s not the issue here. It’s the second part that is challenging. Giving to God what is God’s – living out our baptismal dignity and making that indelible mark, that image of God on our souls actually mean something. So, what do we give God? The answer is shown to us right here on the Cross. The gift that we give is the gift of ourselves. It is a gift of self-sacrifice, a gift of self-emptying love.
Jesus never laid down rules and regulations. He laid down principles and that is why His teachings are timeless. He gives us the principle and then tells us to think and figure it out for ourselves. He makes His appeal not to some lofty principle, but to common sense. The implication is that the coin has Caesar’s picture on it, so give it to him. But the most important line is “Give to God what is God’s.” God does not want taxes; He does not need your vote. But God does deserve your heart and conscience. These should never be given to a human institution or even to a human relationship. Your greatest love, your greatest loyalty belongs to God. As Franz the Thomas Moore of our time who was beheaded on August 9th, 1943, for not fighting an unjust war would say; “To me, the most precious thing in the whole world is the consciousness of not participating in evil”.
My brothers and sisters, on the one hand, God wills a certain authority to exist and for us to obey it: God’s fourth commandment also enjoins us to honor all who for our good have received authority in society from God. (CCC, #2234) On the other hand, however, “Citizens are obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order.” Acts 5:29 (CCC, #2256). Thus, as soon as the law of the land contradicts God’s command, we are to disobey the law of the land and obey God’s law. Of course, any unjust law is no law. We are to take care of this world given to us by God, transforming it to become the Reign of God where there would be a fullness of justice, love, peace, and joy, that’s constitutive of the Gospel. And that exactly is the just law.
God bless you!
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