Today’s Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus and He knows it: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Give to God what is God’s.”
What belongs to God? Our bodies belong to God, and we should take care to nourish our bodies by eating healthfully, exercising, and moderation. Our hearts and souls belong to God so it’s important to feed our souls with the spiritual graces of the sacraments, prayer and fasting. God has given us our life. We give generously back to Him.
Yes, we have to pay taxes. Yes, we have to live in a country and must follow its laws. But our bodies and souls belong to God. We are free, but not free to do whatever we want. Since our bodies and souls belong to God, we must follow God’s laws to be truly free to do what we know is right. We must follow the law engraved on our hearts and in accord with our conscience.
St. John Paul II, whose feast day we celebrate today, said, “True freedom is not advanced in the permissive society, which confuses freedom with license to do anything whatever and which in the name of freedom proclaims a kind of general amorality … When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.”
Ponder:
What can I do to give more of myself to God on a daily basis? What can I do to be healthier, both physically and spiritually?
Pray:
God, please help me to see Your hand in all things. Give me the graces to give more of myself to You on a daily basis.
Plot Line and Sinker (Ellen Gable, Author) 