Coin has the inscription of Caesar, What about Human Being?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 29th Week : Sunday*

*Mission Sunday*

*Gospel : Mt 22:15-21*

*First Reading : Is 45:1, 4-6*

*SECOND READING - 1 Thes 1:1-5b*

*Coin has the inscription of Caesar, What about Human Being?*

*1) The question of Paying of the taxes*

The Gospel has the discussion of paying of the census tax to Caesar

The real motif of the Pharisees was to trap Jesus with the question of taxes 

So they come up with the question *Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”*

*2) Coin and the inscription on the Coin*

While answering the question about paying of the taxes Jesus asks for a coin and then asks *“Whose image is this and whose inscription?"*

To this question they replied *They replied, “Caesar’s.”*

Then Jesus beautifully said *Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”*

Since the coin was having the image and inscription of the King, it was belonging to King and Jesus says, Give to the king what belongs to the King

*3) What belongs to God?*

Going by the Logic of image and inscription on the Coin, to find out, to does it belong, we can also apply the same logic to find out what belongs to God, and to whom do we belong 

We can find out some biblical verses to find that we have the image and inscription of God, therefore we belong to God

*4) The image and Likeness of God*

The Book of Genesis tell us that we have been created in the image and likeness of God 

In other Words, we have the image and inscription of God, in our life 

So according to Jesus, give to God what belongs to God, we need to offer ourselves to God what belongs to God 

*5) Mission Sunday is the special time to repay God, what belongs to God*

Since we have the image and inscription of God, in us, everything that we have belongs to God 

We have intelligence of God

We have skills of God

We have talents of God 

We have ideas of God

We have creativity of God

We have heart to love, which is close to God

We have hands to help like Jesus 

We have eyes to see the misery of others like Jesus 

We have ears to hear the goodnews and listen the painful stories of others, as Jesus did 

So whatever we have belongs to God. So Give to God what belongs to God 

*6) God needs us, for His mission*

As we celebrate the Mission Sunday, it reminds us that God needs our cooperation for His mission Work 

In this regard we need to contribute for the spread of the Mission 

Ultimately we belong to God, therefore we need to give everything to God for His mission 

Various mission activities which are done in this context in our parishes speaks very loudly that we give to God, what belongs to God 

Apart from the monetary help, we must give our daily life activities for the spread of the Gospel 

*6) Daily activities for the spread of the Gospel*

Mission Sunday is not one day or one Sunday activity, which involves lots of money. This is the only one side of the story. This is rather easy to do it 

But to cintribute through  the daily activities of Life, is really challenging

Give to God, the daily activities of your life, which belongs to God for the spread of the Gospel

Daily activities like 

Forgiveness

Humility

Service

Sacrifice

Love

Simplicity

Generosity

Patience

Kindness

Faithfulness

All these values belong to God. Repay to God, with these values to spread his kingdom. 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*