MT 22:15-21
The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
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 they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's."
At that he said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
The other day a woman came to the Catholic Charities Center for Hope in downtown Flint. Eve (not her real name) was probably in her mid-60’s and had recently become homeless. She said she hadn’t slept in the 3 days it took her to find her way there. During the couple of hours she spent there, Eve was provided, with food to eat, more clothes to wear, personal items to use, a bible to feed her spirit, and finally driven to a place to stay. She was looking forward to a warm bath and a bed to sleep on. Eve’s basic human and spiritual needs were provided for.
It got me thinking about what we really need in life. Just like food, clothing and shelter, there is another basic human need we all have, a need to be part of something larger than ourselves. A need to belong. This is something we will search for until we are satisfied.
So, what does it mean to truly belong? Maybe you have found yourself in a situation where you felt that no one knew you, and worse, didn’t seem to care enough to want to get to know you. You may have felt invisible, ignored, and rejected. You surely didn’t belong there…
Maybe you’ve found yourself in a place where it felt like you belonged because people seemed to want to get to know you, but the more they found out, instead of loving, they judged and rejected you. Do you think you truly belonged there?
Maybe you’ve found yourself in a place where those around you love you, or say they do, but they don’t really know you. The feeling of belonging you have isn’t worth the risk of rejection by becoming vulnerable and allowing others to know the real you. You speak carefully, avoid certain conversations and situations, act like you have it all together, hide parts of you, hide the real you, afraid of what might happen if someone found out. But here’s the thing, do you truly belong here, or do you act like someone you’re not just to fit in?
We truly belong when we are both known and loved. Sometimes we can find this true sense of belonging with a close friend, our family, or spouse. Sometimes we find it in our church, school, or workplace. But, we can always find it with God.
In this Gospel we see the Pharisees trying to trick Jesus by asking him a loaded question. To avoid their trap, Jesus took the coin and asked “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” … Then repay to Cesar what belongs to Cesar and to God what belongs to God.”
What is it that belongs to God? What has God’s image on it and God’s inscription? You do. You were created by God in the image of God, his love for you is inscribed on your heart.
In the book of The Prophet Isaiah God tells us, “Do not fear. I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.” And St Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans that there is nothing that can separate you from this love that God has for you. God totally knows the real you, chooses the real you, loves the real you, and will love you into eternity. You will always truly belong to God. You are his.
With God there is no fear of being ignored, no fear of being rejected because of some baggage we carry, no need to fake it or hide parts of us to earn his love. Belonging to God sets us free, allowing us to be just who we are.
In the Gospel Jesus says to give to God what belongs to God. That’s you. I invite you to give yourself to God. Lay yourself at his feet. Let him look on you and love you, right now, sitting here just the way you are with all your joys, your struggles, your anxieties, your doubts, those things you are thankful for and those times you felt lost. Hear him tell you, “You are mine and with me you will always belong.”
Until next time, may God be with you,
Deacon Ken