Homily – 10-19-2008 – Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus didn't get much into politics: he did not come as a politician, a social reformer, a world-class economist or trade-specialist. He did not come as an earthly king or regent of any sort. He came as Savior. He came as Healer. He came as Reconciler! He came as King of All Creation (not just any one part of it! – since He made it all in the first place!)

And so, in the gospel passage today, Jesus says in responding to a question about taxation: give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. If there is a question involved here: it would be one of priority. Which is more important: The giving to Caesar or the giving to God?

Without a moment's hesitation our answer as Catholic Christians ought to be: "giving to God what is his due is most important!"

And what is God's due: CONSTANT HONOR, GLORY, PRAISE AND THANKS – FOR EVERYTHING! If God did not "speak" his "Word" and "create" everything: then nothing would exists! That we do exist – and all creation around us - is a sign of God's favor, his love, his care, his providence. Since we are NOTHING without him – he deserves ALL thanks, and praise and glory and honor FIRST and FOREMOST! This is not difficult to understand!

Then, as we use the intelligence he gives us to order ourselves into harmonious living situations and conditions with one another – both in small and large groupings called: villages, towns, cities, countries; while we try to achieve peace and balance among ourselves – who are truly brothers and sisters – of the one Creating and Sustaining God and Father; we are to render to those in legitimate government offices what is their due – according to legitimate need and lawful requests – and according to our own rightly formed consciences – after we primarily render to God what is his due: which is what we are doing here and now in this Mass: giving him worship, praise, glory, honor and thanks – and telling him that he can count on us to be his hands and feet and heart and voices as we go from here to love others with his own love!

When we keep our priorities straight and our perspective clear – then we better know how to interact both as members of the Church and members of the country in which we live, and the world in which it finds itself!

When we do this: we, with Jesus, who is Light of the World, become like lights shining in the world so that not only we ourselves, but all others, might see the way – which will lead ultimately to the One Kingdom of Heaven, where there will be One King: Jesus – and all will be all in him – and peace, and joy will reign forever!

Sing to the Lord a new song: all you lands;

For great is the Lord and highly to be praised;

The Lord is King;

he governs the peoples with equity!