Dear Friends:
Our reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 22:15-21 is short, but it really packs a punch. The Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and other Jewish leadership are trying their best to catch Jesus in a lie or breaking the law; although, Jesus is too smart to be caught up in their petty game. The question they pose today is “tell us, then, what is your opinion: is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Jewish leadership did not like paying taxes to Caesar or anyone else for that matter. I think we can all sympathize with their feelings on this one. However, today they are using a simple question to try to trap Jesus. One would think they would give up on their silly endeavors as they never seem to win! But they won’t; they keep trying to trap him.
At the end of this Gospel, after rebuking the Pharisees for their malicious game, Jesus simply says “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” You see, my friends, the truth is very simple isn’t it? Give to God what is God’s and give to Caesar what Caesar’s. It doesn’t get any simpler than that does it? Yet we try our best to complicate things and make our lives more difficult than they need to be. Perhaps Jesus was sending a message to us also with this very special Gospel. Don’t get caught up in the things of the world; get caught up in the things of God!
Peace and All Good!
Deacon Jim
Are you willing to try something new? Try this week to make your life simpler in just two ways. If that works add another and keep adding week after week. If not start over and try again.
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