29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A (2026)

Jesus was asked: ”Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man…you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth…you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion…you do not regard a person’s status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion…?”

This question was posed by representatives of two groups within Jewish society, Pharisees and Herodians. Herodians, were principally supporters of Herod, the quasi-Jewish king, a puppet of Rome. The Pharisees on the other hand, were devoutly religious and strict adherents to Jewish Law, and they despised Herod. These two groups were not ordinarily on friendly terms, but to put Jesus in a difficult position, they were willing to work together for the sake of silencing him.

So back to their question, coated in false-flattery, about whether one should pay the census tax to Caesar. Their presumption was that Jesus’ response—regardless of how he answered—would incriminate him. If he said they should pay it, it would put him in hot-water with Law-abiding Jews. On the other hand, if he said they should not, the Roman authorities could punish him for encouraging rebellious behavior.

Jesus saw through their disingenuous intent and asked, “Why are you testing me?”  He then requested a coin, and one was promptly presented. It was a Roman coin, which would have borne an image of the Roman Emperor, along with the words, ”Tiberius Caesar, the good son of the divine Augustus”. For the pious Pharisees, calling Caesar ‘divine’ was blasphemous, who did their best to avoid even touching the coins. So, we can reasonably surmise that it was one of the Herodians who produced the coin. As you can imagine, the coin suddenly created an awkward tension between these two groups.

Jesus held the coin before them and answered in a way they wouldn’t have expected: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God". The verse that follows this response tells us they walked away speechless. Why? The coin exposed the Herodians—Jews, mind you—for their cooperation with the Roman government.

But Jesus’ words also exposed the Pharisees. They knew well that part of the taxes paid to Rome helped fund the maintenance of their Temple. They benefited from the coin and the Roman government that they professed to be unholy.

But here’s a deeper meaning to Jesus’ words: As pious Jews, the Pharisees knew the Scriptures thoroughly, including the words, “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him” (Gen 1:27). Jesus’ response reminded them that just as the coin bearing the image of Caesar is owed to Caesar, the human person—stamped with and bearing the image of God—is owed to God: “(Give to) God what belongs to God”. They knew they were not living up to that command.

The coin bearing the image of Caesar contrasted with the people bearing the image of God, reflects our reality as people of two distinct worlds. Yet Jesus would remind us that we live in this world as pilgrims destined for another world, and we must exercise justice to both.

I suspect that every one of us could cite ways we too benefit from our government, even if, like the Pharisees, one is inclined to regard it as unholy, or at least, distinct from the things of God.

But Jesus’ words further challenge us as he tells us to give to God what belongs to Him. It’s fitting to hear these words in this Respect Life Month. I recall hearing about a young woman, who happened to be the daughter of a well-known English Catholic philosopher, Elizabeth Anscombe, who died about 25 years ago.

The daughter was arrested and hauled into court for publicly protesting abortion too close to a “bubble zone” near an abortion clinic. She rejected the offer of being provided with a public defender, choosing to defend herself in court. The judge lectured her: “I know you are Catholic. You are here in court because you have forgotten one of the things that your teacher Jesus said about the relation between religion and politics: ‘render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God’”. Miss Anscombe replied: “The bodies of our unborn children do not belong to Caesar”.^[1]

In this Respect Life month, but also as we uphold our civic responsibilities, may Jesus’ words serve to remind us that we do not belong to Caesar either. But also may his words guide and embolden us: Give to society what is required of you, and even try to make this world better…but never, ever forget that you bear on your very self, the image of a Father who created you, who breathed Himself into you, who died for you, who is in you, and to whom you would return when you leave this life. That is who you are. Live in accord with that image. As you give to Caesar what is his, give to God what belongs to Him—your very self.

So, the question you should ask yourself and quietly reflect upon: What part of yourself do you withhold from God?

^[1] Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings (Cycle A) (Food for the Soul Series Book 1). Kindle Edition.