On paying taxes to the Emperor

Our gospel reading this Sunday is about our Lord Jesus Christ, paying taxes to Caesar. This is a very timely topic because today we talk a lot about the separation of church and state especially when we talk about the Reproductive Health Bill. You can read this on your Bibles in Matt.22: 15-21.

 “15 The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap [Jesus] in speech. 16 They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status.

 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion; Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? 18 Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. 20 He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription? 21 They replied, “Caesar’s.” at that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

 If there is any hot topics people try to avoid, lest they end up in trouble, it is a discussion on the topic of religion and politics. As we all know, politics even destroys family unity. I need not mention that this is happening right in our own backyard, within the reigning Osmeña Family in Cebu City or the Durano Family in Danao City. Religion too divides peoples and we don’t have to look far. The Holy Roman Catholics split millennia ago with the Orthodox Church and, in the Age of Reformation, it splintered further into thousands upon thousands of churches, all claiming fealty and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ. But of course, there is only one holy and apostolic and Universal (which means Catholic) Church.

 But during the days of our Jesus Christ, especially within Judaism and even 2,000 years later in Iran, there was no such thing as a separation of church and state. Amongst the twelve tribes of Israel, the Levites were the family that took care of the temple. So the rulers of Israel were always connected to God on decisions that they made for their kingdom. In a similar way, the Mullahs of Iran who also run the government were also just as connected to Allah when they did their day-to-day affairs of the state.

 In today’s gospel, the Pharisees tried to entrap our Lord Jesus when they asked him “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” This is a tricky question which should not be answered by a simple yes or no. If our Lord had yes it is lawful, then the Pharisees would accuse Him of collaborating with their hated Roman occupiers. If Jesus found it illegal, then they would report Him to the Romans and tag Him as a zealot.

 Of course, our Lord Jesus Christ was smarter than them, which is why He replied, after seeing the coin: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Remember what our Lord Jesus Christ said during his passion when the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate asked Him whether He was a king? Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered to the Jews.”

 Hence this phrase to render to Caesar what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God is a statement that our Lord clearly points out that we must recognize the authority of our rulers. In the same way, that rulers or kingdoms or governments too must recognize the authority of God or those to whom He entrusts His church. A case in point is the controversial RH Bill. Those claiming to be Catholics for RH, whenever it is convenient and when they run out of argument, place the sign of separation of Church and State.

 For sure, the Philippine Constitution is not a document belonging to the Catholic Church or any other church for that matter, especially on Section 6 where it declares, “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable” or considered sacred. Yet on Section 12 of State Polices, it states “The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect of human rights”. Now isn’t this also the call of the Catholic Church.

 On Section 12, it states, “The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.” Now this passage did not come from the Bible, but our 1987 Constitution. Surely we must be wondering why in heavens are our politicians pursuing an RH bill when they know to well that this violates our very own constitution?

 So when we render to Pres. PNoy what belongs to him, we must do so as citizens of this country. But we too must render to God what belongs to God through his representative here on earth, his holiness Pope Benedict XVI whom comes from a long line of Popes since the days of St. Peter.

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