Homily for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time
“Give to God what belongs to God.” (see Mt 22:15-21)
Jesus said, “Show me the coin used to pay the census tax.” They handed him a Roman coin. He then asked, “Whose image is on the coin?” They said, “Tiberius Caesar.” He continued with a statement that could be a rule of life, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Mt 22:15-21)
It is tempting to think that this means dividing our lives into two parts – God and Caesar. If we come to church, we give to God. If we go to work, we give to Caesar. If we make a charitable donation, that we give to God. If we pay our taxes, we give to Caesar. That maybe what we think, but that’s absolutely wrong!
When Jesus said, “Give to God what belongs to God,” it begs the question, “What belongs to God?” The answer: Everything! Everything includes you. Your breath, your body, talents, your possessions, your status, even your pain and suffering… all belong to God.
Give to God what belongs to God. Give to God everything!
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The coin was made by Tiberius Caesar. The coin had the image of Tiberius imprinted on one side. The coin belonged to Caesar. Jesus said, “Give the coin back to Caesar.”
You, however, were made by God. You have the image of God imprinted on your immortal soul. You belong to God. You are God’s coin.
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God’s coin is not like Caesar’s coin.
Caesar’s coin bears image of Tiberias. God’s coin bears the image of the crucified Christ.
Caesar’s coin serves the purpose of the Roman Empire. God’s coins serves the kingdom of God.
Caesar’s coin acquires power through the accumulation of wealth. God’s coin acquires peace through acts of self-sacrifice and giving.
With Caesar’s coin, possessions are all that matter. With God’s coin, the dignity of the human person is all that matters.
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God wants to spend this coin. God is going to use you to make certain transactions in the world. As God’s coin, God is going to place you in particular situations and expect something in return.
You are God’s coin in the workplace. When God spends this coin in the workplace, it might be to add joy, to advance the truth, to correct an injustice, or to forgive a coworker.
You are God’s coin in the household. When God spends this coin in the family, it might be to purchase love, to bring harmony, to provide safety, or to invest in your family’s flourishing.
You are God’s coin in the world. When you buy groceries, you are God’s coin. When you drive down the road, you are God’s coin. When you meet a stranger, you are God’s coin.
God wants to spend this coin to buy for the world joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness. You are transacting the work of God in whatever situation you find yourself.
Conversely, when you get ready to do something contrary to being God’s coin: send a sassy text, make a provocative social media post, get angry with your spouse – ask yourself, “Is this how God wants to spend this precious coin?”
Imagine for a moment a difficult situation in your life. How would the situation change if you acted as God’s coin, there to transact the work of God? How would the world change?
You are God’s coin. God wants you to make this an economy built upon faith, hope, and love.
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Here is a personal example of being God’s coin. I was in Food Lion. At the check-out, I was behind an elderly woman who was having difficulty. She couldn’t find her wallet, and when she finally found it, she couldn’t find enough cash. She then fumbled through some credit cards and finally chose one and handed it to the cashier. The cashier helped her insert the card and asked her if she had a PIN number. The woman didn’t seem to understand and started looking for other cards. Every once in a while, the cashier would look at me and mouth, “I’m sorry.” It took some time, but she finally paid for her purchase, as did I. On my way out, she was just outside the door, moving slowly and still seeming confused. I asked if I could help. She said she was looking for her son’s car, but couldn’t remember where he parked, or even what color it was. I said, “I understand. How about I wait here with you until we figure it out.” I waited with her as she began to remember. When she did, I helped carry her groceries to the car. As God’s coin, I was placed in that particular situation. I’m not sure what transaction I was making, but I am sure it was the business of God.
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Here is an image of what it means to be God’s coin. To make a coin in Roman times, people would get silver ore – rock mixed with veins of silver. They would heat up the rock. The silver would melt into a crucible. The impurities would begin to float to the top. The refiner would skim off the impurities until he could see his reflection in the pure, liquid silver.
Imagine now that you are that lump of ore. God heats you with a purifying fire – a fire that is sometimes unpleasant but always purifying. Pure silver flows into the crucible. God scrapes off the impurities – the selfishness, the bad habits, the unkind thoughts. When done, God gazes into the pure, liquid metal and sees his own reflection – in you.
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Jesus said, “Give to God what belongs to God.” What belongs to God? Everything. You and I are God’s coin. Be that coin of God in all that you do.