Reflection for TUESDAY, 9th Week, Ordinary Time.

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Assistant Parish Priest,Manjeshwar,Kasargod

Reflective Reading of the Word of God


Mark 12:13-17   

Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God

The chief priests and the scribes and the elders sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some Herodians to catch him out in what he said. These came and said to him, ‘Master, we know you are an honest man, that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you, and that you teach the way of God in all honesty. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay, yes or no?’ Seeing through their hypocrisy he said to them, ‘Why do you set this trap for me? Hand me a denarius and let me see it.’ They handed him one and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s’ they told him. Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’ This reply took them completely by surprise.

 Reflection on the Readings 

In life, we wish to be self-sufficient and independent.

But the reality of life is that we are always some indebted to someone.

And it is not about owing money to someone or to a bank or an organization.

It is usually about owing gratitude for a service or favour.

We may not openly admit it, but we certainly do not like being indebted to someone.

We desire to be free from being beholden to someone.

It is most probably the pride and ego that is working up in us.

In the 1st reading, Tobit was suffering from blindness and he had to be dependent on the charity of others.

But even then, his reluctance to be dependent and his pride was manifested when he suspected his wife of stealing other people’s goods.

But in the gospel, the Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus with the question of paying taxes.

Jesus gave them a reply that took them completely by surprise.

As much as Jesus is telling them to give back to Caesar what belongs to him, He also brought them to another realization.

They have to give back to God what belongs to God, and that is love, truth, justice, mercy, compassion.

We too must realize that we are indebted to God for His love and blessings on us.

We must give thanks for what we have received from God and also do what God is asking of us


          GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day