"GIVE TO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR'S, AND GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S"

TWENTY-NINETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR A.
October 19, 2008.
(First reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6) (Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10)
(Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5) (Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21).


"GIVE TO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR'S,
AND GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S".

PART I.

If we agree that there is nothing that does not belong to God, then we must also agree that what is Caesar's also belongs to God. Everything that exists is drawn into the unity of God, and in him human beings share that unity.

The gospel today presents a group of people (the Pharisees, ancient and modern) who are intent on destroying the unity between God and men and the unity between men themselves.

Creating division.
The gospel describes the process of malice and ill intent men follow in order to create division:
- There is a conspiracy: "The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech" (Matthew 22:15).

- There is an action: "They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians" (Matthew 22:16).

- There is an entrapment: After praising Jesus for his truthfulness and fairness, they try to entrap him by asking: "Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not"? (Matthew 22:17).

Division aims at separating God from man by eliminating the one who stands for unity: Jesus. The Pharisees (like the Pharisees on the present world) expected Jesus to respond in a way that would set him either against man or against God; as if man where in opposition to God or God in opposition to man.

Jesus proclaims unity.
By answering: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's" (Matthew 22:21), Jesus reaffirms that there is no division nor conflict between man and God, that man and God have common interests and goals, namely, the well being of the entire human race. Let us explain:

All human institutions, that is, all aspects of human society are expressions of man's efforts to achieve justice, peace, unity, fulness of life for all. For instance:
- Scientific and technological institutions find their true purpose only when their achievements are placed in the service of all human beings (not just of a few people, lest science and technology become a source of division and inequality).

- Economic institutions find their true purpose only when they produce and distribute the economic wealth for the benefit of all human beings (not just for the benefit of a few, lest economic institutions become a source of division and dispossession).

- Political institutions find their true purpose only when men govern themselves in the interest of all people (not just a few, lest political institutions become a source of division and oppression).

- Religious institutions find their true purpose only when they aim at the unity, peace, justice and fulness of life for all human beings, for in doing so they are doing the will of God.

Therefore, the unifying element of all the aspects of human life is their common goal: The well-being of all human beings.

PART II.

Is there a separation between Church and State?
While Jesus proclaims the unity of all human institutions based on their pursuit of peace and justice for all human beings, the powerful political institution (the "State") seeks to draw to itself all human institutions for its own advantage.

Thus, the State does not propitiate a separation from the Church (for the State expects to bring the Church to its side anyways) but rather a separation from God (who will never support any injustice promoted by the State).

A look at our world today shows us that there is no such thing as a separation between Church and State for the State is succeeding in gaining the Church as an ally.

CONCLUSION.

The unity Jesus proclaims in this gospel is the unity where both Church and State (or any other human institution) share the goals of justice, peace and well-being for all human beings.