(Inspired by Bishop Michael Duca & Fr. John Speekman)
In today’s reading, the Pharisees ask for Jesus’ opinion.
Seriously, are they really asking the
Son of God for his opinion?
Jesus never offered an opinion, not a single,
solitary one. Jesus is the truth. Even the Pharisees knew that
Jesus only spoke God's truth; but, they still only asked his opinion.
Opinions are sometimes human’s most
treasured possessions. However, they belong on the others side of the river
from absolute truth.
Opinions can verify our own thoughts. Opinion can warp the truth.
People flaunt them and parade them around because it is what we want to hear. People become
rich because their opinion is given great value.
Opinion is something we have and we offer from
our human experience; not something that God offers. Our opinions no way oblige
God or hinder the declaration of truth.
Jesus doesn’t give an opinion. He doesn’t
attack those who naively asked for his opinion.
Jesus gives them fact –
You hypocrites! Why do you
set this trap for me?
This was not Jesus condemning or calling the Pharisees bad names. He was sent to save us. Even these words anticipate this loving purpose.
Then Jesus gives the truth.
Repay (give back) to God what belongs to God.
Let us look at that truth - What are we giving to God? God gave us
creation. God gave us life. Most importantly, God gave us Jesus.
Like the coin stamped with the image of Caesar, we are stamped
with the image of God on our soul. Isaiah points out that God grasps us by our
right hand, all of us.
In his October reflection Be a Witness for Life,
Bishop Duca points out how creation and life can given back to God:
“We must unashamedly
be witnesses for Life. We are people of the Light and of the Life and that
should be evident in our witness.”
Our witness to God’s greatness given in our ordinary and everyday
lives is the gift we give back to God. It is the little things we do that defend
creation that are a gift to our creator.
We also need to remember that Jesus Christ is God's greatest gift to
us.
Jesus Christ is the Light. He is the Father’s gift that promises
eternal life.
That is why ‘to give back to God what belongs to God’, is to give
back to the Father the totally pleasing gift of his only begotten Son, Jesus.
This gift is made in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Our greatest gift is our witness to the Light and Life given by
God.
Our gift is not found in our opinion, but, the truth that Jesus
told. Only those who know the truth of Christ’s love can give that love.
Only those who know the truth of God’s mercy can give his mercy. God holds our
right hand and God is stamped on our soul.
In that truth, think about how we give back to
the one who gave us everything.
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