SUNDAY EUCHARIST

You know how sometimes two people who normally can’t stand each other suddenly become best friends because they’ve found somebody they both don’t like?

That’s basically how today’s Gospel begins.

It would be like the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys suddenly joining forces. If that ever happens, you know somebody is in trouble.

The Pharisees and the Herodians were not natural allies. But suddenly they have something in common: they want to get Jesus.

So they ask him, “Is it lawful to pay the tax to Caesar or not?”

It’s a trap. If Jesus says yes, he risks angering people who resent Roman rule. If he says no, they can accuse him of telling people not to obey Rome.

Jesus sees right through them.

He asks for a coin.

“Whose image is this?”

“Caesar’s.”

“Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

And that raises the real question:

What belongs to God?

From the very first chapter of Genesis, we are told that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God.

And Scripture doesn’t leave that idea there. Even after sin enters the human story, Genesis still reminds us that human life is sacred because we are made in God’s image. And centuries later, the Letter of James reminds us again that human beings are made in the likeness of God.

The coin bears Caesar’s image.

We bear God’s.

So give Caesar his coin.

But what do we give to God?

Ourselves.

And we might think, “Well, I already do that.”

I come to church on Sunday.

I pray.

I say my rosary, my novenas.

Maybe I do some good for somebody. I give to charity. I try to be kind.

And all of that is good.

But God wants more than that.

God doesn’t want just the religious part of our lives.

God wants ALL OF US.

And that’s where this Gospel gets uncomfortable.

Because most of us probably have something we still hold back.

Maybe it’s our anger.

Our relationships.

Our money.

Our sexuality.

Our habits.

Our wounds.

Our ambitions.

Our need to stay in control.

Maybe there’s some part of our life where, without ever saying it out loud, we’re telling God:

“You can have everything else. But this part is mine.”

And maybe that’s the question Jesus leaves us with today:

What part of myself am I still holding back from God?

Because the coin bears Caesar’s image.

We bear God’s.

And Jesus says, “Give to God what belongs to God.”

God doesn’t simply want something from us.

God wants us.

All of us.