10/19/2026
FROM THE PASTOR
In today’s Gospel the Pharisees posed a dilemma to test Jesus to see if he was loyal to them and to their understanding of religion. If Jesus answered that it was lawful to pay taxes to a pagan ruler, then he would lose credibility with the Jewish nation who would regard him as a coward and a friend of Caesar. If he said it was not lawful, then the Pharisees would have grounds to report him to the Roman authorities as a political troublemaker and have him arrested.
Jesus avoided their trap by confronting them with the image of a coin. Coinage in the ancient world had significant political power. Where the coin was valid the ruler held political sway over the people. Since the Jews used the Roman currency, Jesus explained that what belonged to Caesar must be given to Caesar.
However, this story has another deeper meaning as well. We, too, have been stamped with God's image since we are created in his own likeness, "God created man in his own image, male and female he created them". We rightfully be long not to ourselves, but to God who created us and redeemed us in the precious blood of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Paul, one of our Church patrons says that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Hence, do we acknowledge that our lives and everything we possess belongs to God and not to ourselves? And do you give to God what rightfully belongs to him?
A prayer of Saint Anselm. Lord, I owe you more than my whole self, but I have no more, and by myself I cannot render the whole of it to you. Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of love. I am wholly yours by creation; make me all yours, too, in love. Amen.