Homily for June 5th, 2018: Mark 12:13-17.
Many of those
who put questions to Jesus did so not to get information, but to “catch him in
speech.” They hoped to get a reply that they could use against him. This is the
case in today’s gospel. The taxes imposed by the hated Roman government of
occupation were deeply resented by Jesus’ people. If Jesus told people not to
pay, he could be denounced to the authorities. If he said we should pay, he
would be discredited with the people.
Jesus does not
give either of the answers his questioners were looking for. He seldom did. Instead he demands that they
show him the coin used to pay the tax. It is a Roman coin. By producing it from
their own pockets Jesus’ questioners show that, whatever their theoretical
position, in fact they recognize the existing situation. The country is ruled
by foreigners. It is their money which is legal tender, and no other.
Jesus’ words,
“Repay to Caesar what is Caesar’s” reject the radical position of those who
claimed that the Roman government was unlawful and should not be obeyed at all.
All the emphasis, however, is on the second part of Jesus’ answer: “Repay to
God what is God’s.” Do that, Jesus is
saying, and everything else will fall into place. Note that Jesus speaks not or
paying but of repaying: “repay to God
what is God’s.” What is God’s anyway?
The answer is inescapable: everything! From God we receive all that we are and
have, sin excepted. God even gives us our possessions and our money. How long
would you retain your possessions and earning power if you lost your health or
even one significant human faculty? At bottom even the things have worked
for are gifts from the creator and giver of all: God.
If repaying to God what is God’s means
anything, it must mean putting God first
in our lives. People who do that make a beautiful discovery. They find that God
will never permit himself to be outdone in generosity. They find that what is
left over for themselves, after giving God the first portion of their time,
talent, and treasure, is always enough, and more than enough. They
discover that Jesus’ words are really true: “There is more happiness in giving
than in receiving” (Acts 20:35).
No comments:
Post a Comment