“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
This closing verse of Sunday’s gospel is a lesson for us. Stop and think about what you are going to say, before you say it. We often spout off the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves though, because Jesus did call the Pharisees hypocrites. He was short-tempered with them on occasions too.Speaking about what belongs to God … the first reading for Mass makes it pretty clear that we belong to God. It said: “I have called you by your name … I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun, people may know that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, there is no other.”We belong to God. We are His forever. Our“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”This closing verse pf Sunday’s gospel is a lesson for us. Stop and think about what you are going to say, before you say it. We often spout off the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves though, because Jesus did call the Pharisees hypocrites. He was short-tempered with them on occasion too.Speaking about what belongs to God … the first reading for Mass makes it pretty clear that we belong to God. It said: “I have called you by your name … I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun, people may know that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, there is no other.”We belong to God. We are His forever. Our life is passing quickly, and the things the secular world values, may not be of lasting value in the long run. We work, pay taxes and become responsible citizens, and these things are necessary for the good of the society that we live in. However, we should never forget who we belong to. God’s face isn’t on the front of a coin. But, the Eucharist we receive at Mass, is the body of Christ. He is not a coin, but a person. The secular world has coins. But, we have Jesus. Eternal life with the Lord Jesus is worth more than all the coins that we’ve ever had or ever will have. Money can’t buy eternal life. The body and blood of Jesus Christ paid the price so that we could live forever in eternal joy. It is a debt we can never repay. But, we can love him, honour him, and glorify him by our lives. He is the Lord, and there is no other.
For the full Readings please go to:
https:thewordonsunday.blogspot.com
John Portelli
