Father Nolan's Homily - October 19, 2008

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.”    

Matt 22:2 

The first reading is taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah is very interesting and confusing to some because King Cyrus who would be considered by Jesus as a Pagan is called “God’s anointed” and that was a shocker.  King Cyrus was a Persian King who overthrew the Babylonian empire that had enslaved and drove into exile the Jews now accomplished God’s will and purpose by liberating the Jews and allowing them to return to their homeland.  It says that God is not restricted by ties of faith or blood but uses and blesses the foreigner who does good.   

If the Bible is God’s book written for us why not read it if we want to know what God wants.  To make it easy read and not because discouraged by failure – why not make a conscious effort to read just a little – something we can do without being overwhelmed.  Promise just to read one line – not one chapter or one paragraph – just one line before you go to bed.  Put the bible on your pillow on your bed.  

The second reading is taken from St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.  This epistle was written before any document of the New Testament.  Paul had started the church in Tessalonicas and was extremely pleased with Timothy’s report on how the congregation was doing.  In this reading he gives thanks to God for their work of faith, their labor of love and their endurance in hope. 

In the gospel of St. Matthew we see Jesus in response to a trap question lay down an important principle.  They asked Jesus if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not.  Jesus replied “Give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is Gods.”  We have obligations both to the world and to God.   

George Washington Carver was an American scientist.  He was born to slave parents right at the end of the Civil War.  As a young man he earned a Master of Science degree from Iowa State College of Agriculture.  He was invited to join the faculty of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.  His specialty was agriculture research.   

Carver was also a deeply religious man.  He told a story of once asking God what could be done with a peanut!  And according to him God said “You have a brain.  Figure it out for yourself.”  And he proceeded to do that very thing.  His research uncovered some 300 new uses for peanuts making them a major crop for the old South and made President Jimmy Carter a rich man!   

Today’s gospel reading reminds me of that story!  A group of people came to Jesus asking if it was lawful or not to pay taxes to the emperor.  The question was political dynamite.  The question was not asked in sincerity.  It was an attempt to force Jesus to say something that would either discredit Him with the crowd or get Him into trouble with the authorities.  If Jesus said “yes” He would fall into disfavor with the people.  If he said “no” they would report Him to the authorities and He would be arrested as an insurrectionist.  If he said “yes” He would cease to be a Jew.  If he said “no” He would be in trouble with the Romans.  If He said “yes” He would offend patriotic Jews.  A “no” would put Him behind bars.  One way or the other He was bound to be crushed they thought, but they were wrong.

All of us know his answer.  Calling for a coin He asked “Whose head is this and whose inscription?”  When they replied “Caesar” He said “then give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s.”  The question was a masterpiece of shrewdness and cunning but the answer was even more ingenious than the question.  It put his adversaries to shame.  St. Luke says they fell silent.  In one sense that answer did not settle anything.  They still had to settle what was Caesar’s and what belonged to God.  Jesus did not tell them where that line was drawn.  They had to draw if for themselves.  In effect He said to them what God had said to George Washington Carver.  “You have a brain.  Figure it out for yourselves!”   

The message of today’s gospel says loud and clear “Responsible discipleship and responsive citizenship go hand in hand.”   

There is no way to obey the laws of God without also assuming a duty to obey the law of the land.  Each of us has a dual citizenship.  The Christian is a citizen of Heaven but also a citizen of the state.  We have a responsibility to both powers.  We must always remember that civil power and authority is necessary.   

The Jews hated Caesar and his control over their lives.  Like the ancient Jews we hate taxes and complain about them.  But let us always remember that without a civil authority to rule over us there would be chaos and anarchy – no roads, bridges, police, laws to protect us, water supply, sewage system, fire department.  All of these services are bought and provided by your taxes.  We cannot honorably accept these services without giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s!! 

Having said that much it also must be said that at times the ting of Caesar will conflict with the things of God.  When that happens, our primary loyalty belongs to God.  In your life and mine there is one thing that must never belong to society or organized government and that is our conscience!!  In this century we have seen the unspeakable tragedies that have occurred when men and women sell their souls to the state – turning their backs on conscience and washing their hands of personal responsibility.  They followed the dictates of Caesar.  We saw that in the enslavement of Germany by Nazism and communism in Eastern Europe.  All of which brought the slaughter of millions and millions of people across the world.  When St. Peter stood before the judge for preaching in the name of Jesus he said “We must obey God rather than man.”   

Thomas More of England was a classic example of this principle.  “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s but to God what is God’s.”  It is hard to make his acquaintance without falling under his spell.  More was Chancellor of England, King Henry VIII’s right hand man and friend – the most respected man in the realm.  He was wealthy – had a wife and four children.  He had it made.  But now a time came in his life when he was caught between the claims of Caesar and the claims of God.  Henry VIII was a friend of Thomas More and at this point in his life he desperately needed the support of More to set himself up as head of the Catholic Church in England. The King did not wish to kill More and More had no desire to die.  When as Chancellor he could no longer stomach what the king was up to he sought refuge in resignation and silence but a man’s conscience cannot resign.  When the king required More to take the oath of supremacy acknowledging the King as Head of the Catholic Church More wrote in reply “I am the King’s loyal servant but God’s first.”  Caesar had become a marauder.  There was no alternative than to defend God’s kingdom even with his very life – which he did, executed by Henry VIII in the Tower of London.   

Jesus says “Render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.”  Jesus knew that Caesar was a fact of life and as long as he could do it with honor He worked with the system.  But when the day came when He had to choose between God’s way and the world’s way, He made His choice and sealed it in His own blood.   

In times of conflicting loyalties we must keep before us the example and spirit of Christ.  He was loyal to his race, he was loyal to His friends.  He was even loyal to Caesar.  But his supreme loyalty belonged to God and He could not nor would not compromise that even though the price of faithfulness was death on a cross. 

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.