TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

19 October 2008

Readings: Is 45:1, 4-6; Ps 96:1-5, 7-10; 1 Thess 1:1-5b; Matt 22:15-21

World Mission Sunday

“Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.”
....... Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

In the course of Jewish history especially at the time when ancient Israel was destroyed
(AD 70) that lost its nationhood, and democracy gave birth to the founding of the modern
State of Israel, agriculture was the main occupation of Jews. However, with the arrival of
the Romans1 in 63 CE, administrative policies on farming were implemented with
hostility over Judea. Israel that time produced olives, figs, dates, grains and vineyard
products. Jews were obligated to pay a traditional tithe to the temple as a form of support
to the priesthood. There was chaos; the temple was looted and seized to the ground.
Taxing system steadily increased upon the farmers which forced them to abandon their
lands and emigrate to cities like Sepphoris2 and Tiberias.3

At the time of Roman emperors like Caligula and Nero, corruption and oppression
were two predominant scenarios that made the Jews revolt against them. Millions of
Jews perished and many of those who survived were subject to slavery. It was a great
disaster in history and Judea was changed to Palestine in honor of ancient Israel’s mortal
enemy, the Philistines. Then at the time of Jesus’earthly ministry, the emperor had the
ownership of all the money and it was evidently shown on each coin. It all belonged to
him.

1
cf. Bart D. Ehrman. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. New
York:Oxford University Press, 2000. The common language in the Roman Empire was Greek. However,
Jews also spoke Hebrew, Latin and Aramaic. The synagogue was the central meeting place and the seat of
local government. The Romans also required a tribute collected in the form of taxation. The total tax
burden could consume as much as 40% of production. It was seen as the robbery by the Jews, and
tantamount to slavery. The Roman government practiced syncretism. It accepted that all religious beliefs,
philosophical teachings and government systems were a reflection of the larger Roman system. The High
Priest and Sanhedrin reports to the local Roman Government (King Herod and the Roman Governor) and
then to Rome.
2
According to the Jewish historian Josephus, the city of Sepphoris was located, “close to the finer parts of
Galilee.” The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape along the shores of the Sea of Galilee
contributed to the city’s continuous settlement for nearly 2,,000 years. It was the capital of Galilee. Today,
the partially visible ruins of the ancient city lie south of the modern city, completely unaffected by later
construction and archaeologist’s dream.
3
The city of Tiberias (so-named in honor of the Roman Emperor Tiberius) was founded in 20 CE during
the reign of Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. Tiberias was built to replace Sepphoris as capital of
Galilee. For centuries Tiberias served as an important political and spiritual center and figured prominently
in the history of the three great monotheistic religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is here that the
leading figures of the Jewish people of Roman Palestine and the Diaspora resided, and it is here that the
Palestinian Talmud was complied and edited. At the time of the Arab conquest in the 17 th century CE,
Tiberias became the Muslim capital of the northern part of Palestine.
 Today’s gospel is another episode which reminds us of our obligations – one to
God and one to civil authority. These are like two sides of the coin and better yet a
reflection of dual citizenship that we have in a particular country and in God’s kingdom.

Our duty and obligation to God boils down to the first and second commandments
– to love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength.4 And our
basic purpose in life, our mission is to become Christ-like; a reflection of God’s love as
we relate to one another. This is the meaning of being created according to the image and
likeness of God – that we become Christ-like in words and deeds.

As it says in the gospel, “repay to God what belongs to God” reminds us to

understand the gospel values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and mercy as we deal with
one another. This is our Christian life, our ethical life being imbued with the spirit of the
Beatitudes which calls us to a profound faith that is willing to sacrifice in pursuit of love,
peace and justice. After all, ‘wherever God is, God encompasses all.’

The problem these days, however, is that many of us find it difficult to surrender
ourselves to God. One of the reasons is our strong attachments to material things, e.g.
wealth, power or status in society. On the other hand, as citizens of a particular nation
like here in the U.S., we are expected to take part in civic or governmental decision-
making. We are expected to pay our taxes accordingly and to obey laws of the land.

We could imagine here when Jesus was asked if he has to pay the census tax to
Caesar or not? If ever he answered ‘no’, he would have been branded as against the
Romans and would be charged for treason. But if he answered ‘yes’ then he would have
allegedly been considered a collaborator with the Romans. Jesus challenged his
adversaries to be fair and observant in doing their duties and obligations to God and
society.

While we now continue to wrestle with the bailout and failing economy, let our
religious faith remain the essence of strength for our country. Let our faith sustain us and
our nation in a living tradition with enduring hope that “wherever God is, God
encompasses all.” Like in the Roman times when thousands of Christians opted to die
rather than worship their pagan emperors, we too, choose to die from our selfishness and
worldly allurements than canonize the moral hypocrisy and superficiality of culture in
today’s society. God bless you.

4
cf. New American Bible. Deuteronomy 6:5. This passage contains the basic principle of the whole
Mosaic law, the keynote of the Book of Deuteronomy: since the Lord alone is God, we must love him with
an undivided heart. Christ cited these words as “the greatest and the first commandment,” embracing in
itself the whole law of God (Mt. 22, 37f and parallels).