A fascinating scene we have here. Justice is the theme. Keep in mind, our Lord, what we’ve been reading the last several weeks, He’s been giving these beautiful parables about the Kingdom of God, about the church, about Israel, about ourselves. The Pharisees and the Herodians, they’re listening to this really masterful work of art in our Lord’s speech and their hearts are hardened, and so they ask Him just this very minute question about how to pay taxes. It’s like they’ve completely missed, again, the art or the music here. 

The Pharisees and Herodians were opposed to each other. The Pharisees were strict adherents of the law and zealously promoted the nation of Israel. They wanted Israel to be free of any foreign occupation. The Romans were the current occupiers of Israel. The Herodians, on the other hand, they’re not really that religious, actually. They’re more political, named after King Herod, the “king of Israel.” He’s a Jew, but he’s really a Roman. Herod is in line with the Romans because the Romans have given Herod his power. The Herodians think we should work with the foreign occupiers because this is what’s going to allow Israel to be safe and whatnot and continue to function. 

The Pharisees and the Herodians hate each other, but they come together to take down our Lord. They present to Him this coin. If the Lord says, yes, you have to pay taxes to the Romans, to Caesar, then the Pharisees are going to hate him and most of the Israelites. If Jesus says, “No, don’t pay taxes to Caesar,” then the Herodians are going to hate him and the Romans are going to come and take him down. Our Lord, again, gives a masterful technique. “Do both. Pay to God, pay to Caesar.” Paying to God, paying to Caesar, let’s apply this to ourselves. 

I think we’re all pretty good at paying taxes to Caesar literally. We follow the laws, we see ourselves as citizens of the United States, wherever our homeland is, and we do what we need to do to allow for harmony in our land. We might not like it, but we do it. When it comes to paying taxes “to God” though, how good are we? In my grading, I think we’re like a B-plus when it comes to paying taxes to Caesar. I’d say we’re like a C when it comes to paying taxes to God. Now, you could say Catholics who don’t go to church, whatever. Yes, true, but really taking the effort in your spiritual life to be with God, that’s paying your tax to the Lord. 

Now, the difference between tax to the state and tax to the Lord is tax to the Lord isn’t a burden. Tax to the state is. We might not agree with government whatever laws, but what our Lord lays out for us, He doesn’t need but it’s for our benefit. Especially the command to pray always like St. Paul will say, that’s for our own good. It’s not like our Lord is needing us as some vengeful God. 

Think about all the things that I have to do in my life as a priest. It could seem very burdensome. I got to pray throughout the day. I’ve got to say mass. I’ve got to take care of the parish. All the gifts that you give me from Mercy Home, all you viewers, like all the chocolate and candy, I have to give a 10th of that to Father Scott. I’m just kidding. That’s not required. Even if I did, though, these things aren’t burdens to me. They give me a lot of freedom and peace. Like praying throughout the day makes me stop from my work and get me out of my head. Saying mass for the people also breaks me out of the selfishness and I’m with people having to do all the responsibilities of the parish. 

We might look at what our God is proposing to us and see that as a gift, actually. If there’s something in the church that’s really a law per se that you don’t like, maybe spend some time praying with that and see how that can actually draw you closer to the sacred heart of the Lord because that’s what it’s all about. Amen.