Message from our Pastor - October 18, 2026

Dear Friends,

In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees approach Jesus with a carefully calculated question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” It sounds like a simple question, but it is actually a trap. If Jesus answers, “Yes, you should pay the tax,” He risks losing credibility with the Jewish people, who deeply resented Roman occupation. But if He answers, “No, you should not pay it,” they can accuse Him of rebellion against Caesar. Either answer could be used against Him.

Jesus, however, is not trapped by their political calculation. He asks them to show Him the coin used for the tax and then asks, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They answer, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus gives His famous response: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

At first, these words may seem to suggest that life can simply be divided into two parts: one part belongs to Caesar and another part belongs to God. But Jesus is pointing to something much deeper.

Certainly, we have responsibilities toward society. We have civic obligations, laws to respect, and responsibilities toward one another. But there is a fundamental difference between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God. The coin bears the image of Caesar, and therefore it can be returned to Caesar. But we bear the image of God. The Book of Genesis tells us that God created the human person “in his own image and likeness.” This is at the very heart of our Christian identity. Our deepest identity does not come from what we possess, what we accomplish, how successful we are, or what other people think of us. Our deepest identity comes from God, because we bear His image.

And therefore, when Jesus says, “Give to God what belongs to God,” He is inviting us to ask a very personal question: What truly belongs to God? The answer is our whole life belongs to God. This does not mean that we should withdraw from the world or neglect our responsibilities. On the contrary, precisely because we belong to God, we are called to live our responsibilities faithfully, with honesty, justice, compassion, and love.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that God must remain at the center of our lives. Whatever we do, whatever we possess, and whatever responsibilities we carry, should ultimately be oriented toward our relationship with God. Our work, our family, our possessions, our talents, and our daily decisions all have their proper place, but none of them should take the place that belongs to God alone.

To “give to God what belongs to God” means to recognize that our whole life comes from Him and is ultimately directed toward Him. We live in this world, fulfill our responsibilities in this world, and love the people entrusted to us, but we do all of this with God at the center and for His glory.

Fr. Peter