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A team of 200 priests comment on daily Gospel

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Liturgical day: Tuesday 9th in Ordinary Time

Gospel text (Mk 12,13-17): «Return to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's». Jewish leaders sent to Jesus some Pharisees with members of Herod's party, with the purpose of trapping him in his own words. They came and said to Jesus, «Master, we know that you are true; you are not influenced by any-one, and your answers do not vary according to who is listening to you, but you truly teach God's way. Tell us, is it against the Law to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not?».

But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, «Why are you testing me? Bring me a silver coin and let me see it». They brought him one and Jesus asked, «Whose head is this, and whose name?». They answered, «Caesar's». Then Jesus said, «Return to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's». And they were greatly astonished.

Illustration: Francesc Badia

Today, to put it this way, God defends His position: He does not want to trample us nor does He accept that we trample Him. How far does "Caesar’s" power reach? And where does God’s power begin from? How bad we are! We would even want to put a border between "I" and "God”!: Here is my freedom and there is your heaven ... God does not want to mix in our temporal affairs, but neither does He accept that we disregard his voice ... True, "I am free "; But it is also true that without God "I would not be free" ("I would not even be").

“God alone is God, and let God be God" (Benedict XVI).