YEAR B: HOMILY OF TUESDAY 9TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B: HOMILY OF TUESDAY 9TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: WHAT’S CAESAR’S? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa

2 Peter 3:11-15,17-18; Psalm 89(90):2-4, 10, 14, 16; Mark 12:13-17

In our gospel reading (Mark 12:13–17), the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians, two ideological enemies, unexpectedly unite to confront Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar. Their question is like a snake in the grass, aiming to trap Jesus with his response. But Jesus outsmarts them by subtly declaring that there is absolutely nothing left for Caesar.

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The Herodians, connected to Herod Antipas and Rome, had different priorities than the Pharisees, who worked hard for Jewish freedom. They prioritized their own power over Jewish independence. It’s surprising that they teamed up to question Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar, as their goals didn’t align.

The Roman Empire ruled over the Jews and required them to pay taxes. Everyone had to pay, no matter how old or young, male or female, free or slave. It was like a mandatory fee, paid in the Roman currency called denarius.

Devout Jews hated the Denarius coin because it had writing on it that called the Roman Emperor a god. This was offensive to them. Money changers were present in the Temple to facilitate the exchange of Roman coins for acceptable money, as the Temple prohibited the use of Denarius.

Judas the Galilean once led a rebellion against the Romans, fighting against paying taxes. He believed that God was the true ruler and that Jews should unite to establish God’s kingdom. However, the Romans crushed the rebellion, making it clear that paying taxes was mandatory, not optional.

The disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians joined forces to interrogate Jesus against a backdrop of resentment towards Roman authority and the weighty yoke of taxation. “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” they ask.

If Jesus had said, “No,” don’t pay the tax, he could be charged with inciting people to rebel against the Roman authority. On the other hand, if he had responded “yes,” they could have denounced him as a collaborator with the Roman authority. He would have lost favor with the crowd.

The Jews were unhappy with Roman rule and taxes. Jesus was in a tough spot, with the Pharisees and Herodians trying to trick him. So, Jesus had to think carefully and come up with a clever answer to outwit them.

“Let me see the money you pay the tax with.” They present him with a Roman coin. “Which image is this, and whose inscription?” Jesus asks them. The denarius had the following inscription on it: “Tiberius Caesar, august son of the divine Augustus.” The reverse side bore the inscription “High Priest.”

The strategy was to push them to reveal to the crowd that they had a denarius depicting Caesar in the Temple precincts, which was blasphemous. As a result, they give the only answer they can: It is Caesar’s image on the coin. Jesus says, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”

Many people use Jesus’ response to support the idea of separating church and state. But that’s not what Jesus meant. At Jesus’ time, no one was even discussing the idea of separating church and state, so it’s unlikely that’s what he was referring to.

What then belongs to Caesar, and what belongs to God? In essence, God owns everything. Psalm 24:1 really drives the point home: “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. He owns the world and all of its people.”

If God owns everybody and everything, then what’s left to give to Caesar? Absolutely nothing! Jesus cleverly maneuvers to avoid offending the Roman authorities and the crowd, all while effectively conveying his message.

What can we take away from today’s gospel reading? The devil can wear many masks, even donning a friendly face and sweet-talking us down the wrong path. There is no such thing as giving Caesar his due; everything and everyone belong to God.

The Pharisees and Herodian disciples come to Jesus with a question as innocent as a lamb about paying taxes to Caesar. Despite their flattering introductory words, they are hoping to entrap him with what he says.

We must learn to have our wits about us in order to spot the devil’s tricks and not fall for them. Temptations and deceptions can come in all shapes and sizes, with various colors and flavors.

Being Christian isn’t something we can put aside when we’re busy or when we want to give Caesar his dues. Our faith should be at the center of our lives, guiding everything we do. It’s like a thread that runs through every part of our lives, shaping our actions and decisions. Our highest loyalty should be to God and His kingdom.

Today’s gospel does not pass judgment on whether taxes are legitimate or not; it takes it for granted. It does not talk about the separation of Church and State; they should not interfere with each other’s distinctive purposes. While the Church orders the community to its ultimate end, namely, God, the political community exists for the sake of the common good.

Let us stay alert and watch out for the devil’s trick (1 Peter 5:8). Let us remember to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind (Matthew 22:37). May nothing—not even a wolf in sheep’s clothing—get between us and the love of God. Amen.

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