SOURCES ONLY (SEE NEXT PAGE FOR HOMILY) JPII in Warsaw in 1979.

Jerome: Lately under Caesar Augustus, Judaea, which was subject to the Romans, had been made tributary when the census was held of the whole world; and there was a great division among the people, some saying that tribute ought to be paid to the Romans in return for the security and quiet which their arms maintained for all. The Pharisees on the other hand, self- satisfied in their own righteousness, contended that the people of God who paid tithes and gave first-fruits, and did all the other things which are written in the Law, ought not to be subject to human laws. saying, Master, we know that Thou art true. They call Him Master, that, deceived by this shew of honour and respect, He might in simplicity open all His heart to them, as seeking to gain them for disciples. This is ironic, since they don't believe what they are saying, and themselves are full-over with concern for fellow man and what others think, i.e., their public persona. They are also provoking Jesus to respond against Herod and Caesar. They take Herodian soldiers or followers to incriminate Jesus against one camp or the other: Pharisees or those who don't pay the text. Others had been killed for opposing Herod, thus this was a matter of life and death. Jesus, in his mercy, diffuses the situation by calling the hypocrites. He is seeing the plot in their hearts despite their kind words, but he does not condemn them he non-violently offers them an opportunity to avoid the situation, without even losing their own public persona. (This, by the way, should be a lesson for us, who too often relish the chance to destroy others' reputation, especially when they deserve it) Chrys.: But when you hear this command to render to Caesar the things of Caesar, know that such things only are intended which in nothing are opposed to religion; if such there be, it is no longer Caesars but the Devils tribute. And moreover, that they might not say that He was subjecting them to man, He adds, And unto God the things that are Gods. Hilary: It behoves us also to render unto God the things that are His, namely, body, soul, and will. For Caesars coin is in the gold, in which His image was portrayed, that is, Gods coin, on which the Divine image is stamped; give therefore your money to Caesar, but preserve a conscience void of offence for God. Origen: This moreover let us learn from this place, that to those who tempt us we should neither be totally silent, nor yet answer openly, but with caution, to cut off all occasion from those who seek occasion in us, and teach without blame the things which may save those who are willing to be saved. CCC 2113 Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and mammon."44 Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast"45 refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God.46 46 Cf. Gal 5:20; Eph 5:5. 450 From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord".67 "The Church. . . believes that the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and Master."68 67 Cf. Rev 11:15; Mk 12:17; Acts 5:29. 68 GS 10 3; Cf. 45 2.

Render Unto Caesar: Stamped by God's Image

Today the Old Testament reading and the Gospel both focus on the issue of civil governance and what kind of respect we can and should offer our civil leaders as a response to faith. We first see in Isaiah ch. 45 that Cyrus, the king if Persia, is used by God, even anointed by God, to be the instrument for delivering Israel: Cyrus who conquered Babylon also gives the Israelites free return to their country. In the Gospel, Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees and the Herodians, likely soldiers or law enforcement, who attempt to provoke him to speak against Caesar and Herod, whom Caesar appointed. Their words attempt to deceive Jesus into the situation Teacher, we know you are truthful and teach the way of God, you don't concern yourself with others' opinion or status...so, is it lawful or not to pay the census tax? A wrong word could put Jesus in some serious danger, even death, because of the Herodians who are present. Jesus first calls them hypocrites: this is a tough love way of calling the situation like it is they are trying to ensnare him maliciously even as their words suggest nothing of the sort. He then offers them an honest answer that not only speaks the truth, but also paralyzes their malice toward him. In fact, the statement gives them much to think about religiously. Let us look at the first part of the response. In saying repay to Casear what belongs to Caesar, Jesus is legitimizing the government's role, but only to a certain extent. There is no absolute allegiance here. CCC 450 states: From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord". "The Church. . . believes that the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and Master." Thus we owe the legitimate authority our humble submission in any respect that does not oppose religion or the common good. We must do our part to contribute to the good of all by fulfilling our [respective] roles in the life of the political community, even serving in that government (CCC 2239). But the next part is what really gets Jesus' audience: ...and [repay] to God what belongs to God. This is ironic because in a sense everything belongs to God, even what belongs to Caesar. But the use of the coin, and the image on it really drives home the point. Because this evokes the story of the creation of Man in Genesis 1:27, where man was created in God's image. Since we, in our very persons, have the divine image stamped upon our souls and bodies, we must render to God in a much more radical way.

John Paul II began his pontificate with a most profound illustration of these aspects of Jesus' words today: with his first papal visit to Poland in 1979, he manifested respect for legitimate (even dubious) government authority and the priority of our duties toward God. When he spoke on June 2 of '79 in Victory Square of Warsaw to hundreds of thousands as well as the Communist regime in power, he spoke of human rights and freedom and of God. The response of the people was a spontaneous boom of voices claiming, we want God, we want God... and this went on for over ten minutes, often making it impossible for the Holy Father to continue his homily. (I myself, by the way, have yet to inspire such a raucous response from all of you!) The Holy Father could only turn to the government leaders with a sign of well, do you believe this? The Communist leaders' greatest fears were realized: the Spirit of the Polish people was awakened and could not be silenced again: they would not buy the lie of idolatry to the civil state. In the Eucharist, we are invited to receive God's greatest gift, His only-begotten Son. As we come before the Lord who gives us everything we have, who creates us in His image, let us not be afraid to repay to God what belongs to God, to respond to His love with a complete gift of ourselves, remembering that part of that response is to love our fellow brothers and sisters and promote the common good through our cooperation with today's Caesar, our civil leaders.