RBWords

     These words are among the more famous statements of Jesus.  The traditional English is actually what one will hear in conversation:  "RENDER unto Caesar, etc.."  Like so many biblical quotes, it is usually taken out of context.  To understand it and to understand where we are at the moment in the Gospel According to Mark, we need to remember that the evangelist places this incident in Jesus' last days in Jerusalem.  There is a succession of encounters with religious authorities with a gradually building tension which will find a way, through Judas' treachery, to eliminate Jesus.  The encounter today, instead of chief priests and elders, is between a group of Pharisees and a group of "Herodians, "probably people who supported one of Rome's puppet rulers in the region.  In what may be an unintentional moment of humor, the effort to produce the coin that Jesus asks for meant that the Herodians probably found it since the Pharisees would have considered that coin to be "unclean" because of Caesar's image on it!

     This brings us to the question itself.  "Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"  Here the Law of Moses against idolatry and the Roman tax law of a head tax are placed in theological/political opposition.  Since Caesar had the legal status of a god in Roman civil religion, the Pharisees would consider payment of the tax an act of idolatry because Caesar's image was on the coin.  If Jesus says, "Pay the tax," he could be attacked by Jews.  If he says, "Don't pay," the Roman authorities or their puppet could arrest him for rebellion.  Of course, the real intent of the question is to build a case against him, which would show up in the trial before Pilate.

     Jesus' solution is to raise the issue to the level of real faith.  A coin is only a coin.  The human person bears the image and likeness of God.  The coin bears the image and likeness of Caesar.  The human person belongs to God.  The tax belongs to Caesar.

     Ultimately we face a similar situation as Catholic Christians.  Our own governments, whether national, state or local, will create legislation that demands obedience contrary to gospel values.  This runs the gamut from abortion, same-sex "marriage," immigration enforcement, environmental degradation, etc..  Pope Francis has consistently called our attention to whose image we should be most concerned about.  It is the image of God to be found in every human person.  Secular, political and legal actions constantly attack that image in favor of morally dubious economic and consumerist and "national security" interests.  In responding to the same question asked of Jesus, I believe we must always ask how our response favors the image and likeness of God or the image and likeness of secular interests.  AMEN