Homily for October 22, 2023 by Fr. Joe Tedesco

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6, 1 Thess. 1: 1-5b, Matthew 22: 15-21

Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.

We believe that political power is given for the sake of the people – for the common good – but the authority it carries comes from God and is conferred so that the divine purpose in the world may be realized. We believe there is a divine purpose for the whole people, and we are those who implement this purpose because of our faith, our belief that God has called us to live it out today.

The Catechism discussing the needs of the human community and the participation in its societal life states: the duty of obedience requires all to give honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and goodwill.

How are we responsible citizens of the Country and also of the Kingdom of God? How is God calling us to show the world the mercy, compassion and forgiveness and love of Jesus for every person. It seems we are being asked to reflect on our own sincerity as we seek a Christian response to the problems in our world today. Especially our country, our democracy today.

God is our life, choose this life, a life of justice and peace, mercy, and forgiveness. A life of balance in all things. So, we live the Beatitudes and do all that is required for your life with God and all that your life demands of you. In reality, we hold in tension the values of God and what the world requires of us. Give to God what belongs to God and to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. In that order for us in faith.

Jesus uses the coin with Caesar’s image to point to the secular world. My brother and sisters, look at each other, we are created in the image and likeness of God. How do we give to God what belongs to God? That means each person belongs to us too, so we give them what they deserve. How? By promoting justice and equality for every single person.

It’s the challenge of being authentic. No fooling around. Who are you? It’s letting go of all that does not aid us in being real, who we say we are. Being clear about the values we believe government should choose to promote. Every person has dignity, every person is celebrated, so our life together calls us to share the resources we have as a nation. There should be no one going to bed hungry, or homeless. All need to have medical coverage. These issues should not be a question but realities.

We pay taxes, yes, that is a good thing. Because without taxes there are no services. And some people need more services than others, so as good citizens who want to promote the welfare of
all people to enhance the viability of every community in our country and beyond by our vision and values. So we pay our fair share of taxes to make this all work for everyone. Because we belong to one another. And we vote as good citizens, and we obey the laws of the Country. We are all the Beloved of God, part of God’s life who truly loves each of us. As St. Paul reminds us, we live in faith, hope and love. We are believers and members of the Church. Our citizenship is in heaven, ultimately.

There’s a myth out there that everyone is on their own to make life work. The problem is there is not a level playing field. Some are not so able to overcome the discrimination they experience, the prejudice that lingers over them, a lack of education or medical care etc. etc, that can stunt your ability to get ahead.

That’s why we pool our resources, so everyone gets what they need. I know it’s not easy because we can do it for ourselves and have an easier time then some others do. I remember growing up in Philadelphia and in my neighborhood, as an Italian family, we experienced some prejudice. Called all kinds of derogatory names. But we were able to overcome it. My Dad at work had a double issue, an Italian and Catholic, not a member of the private organization of the Masons. He had to prove himself more than others.

We live in the Holy Spirit with conviction because we believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We belong to Him and always seek to do God’s Will. God’s values shape our response to life. Both our religious and political realities. There’s the tension we hold, we are first the people of God.
So, we approach life from this truth.

Isaiah is saying loud and clear to the King of Persia, King Cyrus, God wants you to free the Jews from Babylon and allowed them to go back to Juda and Jerusalem. For them and for us, God is the Lord. So, we are comfortable to challenge the government to be clear about making sure that every person be treated with dignity and respect and given the basics for a decent life.

So, we are challenged as people of faith in Christ, to see things in a bigger vision, of love and that in God, we are all one. We live out of this truth and belong to one another. We give to God what is God’s – love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, to all God’s beloved, all our brothers and sisters.