Coin has Caesars Image. Humans have Gods image

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Ninth Week:  Tuesday*

*Gospel :  Mark 12: 13-17*

*First Reading : 2 Pet 3:12-18*

*Responsorial Psalm : 90: 2-16*

*Coin has Caesars Image. Humans have Gods image*

*1) Jesus on Image*

Jesus asks for a coin.

He asks, "Whose image and inscription is this?"

They answer, "Caesar's."

Jesus replies, "Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."

Notice that Jesus does not explicitly say what belongs to God. He leaves the sentence open, inviting reflection.

The key clue is the question about the image.

*2) The Logic of the Image*

The coin bears Caesar's image.

In the ancient world, an image on a coin signified ownership, authority, and origin. The coin circulated under Caesar's authority. In a practical sense, it belonged to his economic system.

But what bears God's image?

According to Book of Genesis, human beings are created in the image of God.

So the hidden logic becomes:

Coin → Caesar's image → Give it to Caesar.

Human person → God's image → Give yourself to God.

Jesus shifts the discussion from taxation to identity.

The real question is not, "Should I pay taxes?"

The deeper question is:

"Whose image do I bear, and therefore to whom do I belong?"

*3) A Brilliant Reversal*

The people questioning Jesus are focused on a small metal coin.

Jesus redirects attention to the human person.

It is almost as if he is saying:

"You are worried about a coin stamped with Caesar's image. I am worried about a soul stamped with God's image."

The coin is insignificant compared with the person.

Caesar gets metal. God gets the heart.

*4) What Does It Mean to "Render" Ourselves to God?*

If a coin is returned to the one whose image it bears, then rendering ourselves to God means allowing our lives to return to their true source.

This includes: our worship, our love, our conscience, our will, our whole being.

The coin fulfills its purpose when it circulates within Caesar's realm.

A human fulfills their deepest purpose when they live in communion with God.

*5) The Irony in the Passage*

The coin bears Caesar's image, but Caesar himself bears God's image.

The emperor may stamp his face on silver, but he cannot stamp his face onto the human soul.

Even Caesar belongs to God. This means Caesar's authority is real but limited.

He can claim taxes. He cannot claim ultimate ownership of persons. Only God can do that.

*6) Deeper Reflections*

Sin can be understood as allowing other things to claim ownership of us: power,  wealth, reputation, ideology, fear.

These become "little Caesars." They try to imprint their image upon us.

The spiritual life is the process of letting God's image shine forth again.

In this sense, Jesus' saying is not primarily about politics. It is about belonging.

The coin asks: "Whose image is on me?"

The Gospel asks: "Whose image is on you?"

And once that question is answered, the rest follows naturally.

The coin can be handed back to Caesar. But a human being, bearing the image of God, can only find rest when rendered back to God.

If the coin is returned to Caesar because it bears his image, what must happen to the human soul that bears God's image?

Their answer is: The soul must be returned to God. Not merely after death, but throughout life.

Just as a coin is restored to its rightful owner, the human person is continually called to be restored to God.

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*