Human Being : Gods Image and Likeness - Coin : Caesars Image and Inscription

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Twenty Ninth Week:  Mission Sunday*

*Gospel :  Mt 22: 15-21*

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

*Responsorial Psalm : 96: 1-10* 

*Second Reading : 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5*

*Human Being : Gods Image and Likeness - Coin : Caesars Image and Inscription* 

*1) What does Caesar’s image and inscription on the coin mean?*

During Jesus’ time, Roman coins carried the emperor’s portrait and inscriptions identifying him by name and titles. The denarius often associated with this Gospel bore the image of Emperor Tiberius. The image and inscription had several meanings.

*A) The image represented the emperor’s authority* : The portrait identified the ruler who exercised political power over the territory. The coin reminded people that they lived under Roman rule.

*B) The inscription proclaimed his identity and status* : The words on Roman coins could identify the emperor and proclaim his titles. They communicated his position, authority, and sometimes claims associated with his power.

*C) The coin represented the economic system* : People used coins to buy and sell goods, pay wages, conduct business, and pay taxes. The emperor’s image was therefore present in the ordinary economic life of the people.

*D) The coin reminded people of their obligations to civil authority* : Jesus acknowledges that there are legitimate responsibilities towards civil society. Paying taxes is one such responsibility. His answer does not encourage people to ignore their civic duties.

However, Jesus also establishes a limit: Caesar is not God. Political authority and economic power do not possess the ultimate claim over human life.

The coin bears Caesar’s image, but Caesar does not own the human soul. The emperor may exercise political authority, but he cannot take the place of God.

*2) What are the implications of Caesar’s image and inscription today?*

The image of Caesar can help us reflect on the powers and influences that shape our lives today.

- *Money* can carry the image of Caesar. It can influence our decisions, relationships, and priorities.

- *Power* can carry the inscription of Caesar. It can tempt us to believe that we are superior to others.

- *Status* can carry the inscription of Caesar. Titles, positions, qualifications, and public recognition can become more important than character.

- *Success* can carry the image of Caesar. We may begin to measure people by their wealth, achievements, possessions, or social influence.

Money, authority, success, and recognition are not evil in themselves. They can be used for good. The danger arises when they become the ultimate measure of a person's worth.

A person may have a large bank balance but a small heart. A person may occupy a powerful position but lack compassion. A person may be admired by society but fail to respect the people closest to them. The coin can tell us how much money we possess, but it cannot tell us how much humanity we possess.

*3) What does it mean that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God?*

The foundation of this teaching is found in Genesis 1:26–27: “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.”

This means that every human being has a God-given dignity that cannot be measured by wealth, social position, education, physical appearance, or usefulness to society.

Being made in God’s image does not mean that we physically look like God. It means that we are created with spiritual and personal capacities that enable us to know and love God, to relate to others, to exercise freedom responsibly, and to live in holiness.

*A) Every human being has dignity* : The rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, the powerful and the powerless all possess human dignity. A person does not become more valuable because they own more money. Nor does a person lose dignity because they are poor, sick, elderly, disabled, or dependent on others. If I respect a rich person because of their wealth but ignore a poor person because of their poverty, I may be seeing the image of money rather than the image of God.

*B) We are called to reflect God’s character*  : God is loving, merciful, just, compassionate, faithful, and holy. We reflect God's image more clearly when these qualities become visible in our lives. When we forgive, people experience something of God's mercy. When we defend the oppressed, they experience something of God's justice. When we care for the abandoned, they experience something of God's compassion.

*C) Every human being deserves respect* : We cannot claim to honour God while humiliating the people created in God's image. St John reminds us of this connection in 1 John 4:20: if someone claims to love God while hating a brother or sister, that person's claim is contradictory. We cannot separate love of God from respect for our neighbour.

*D) We are called to become more like Christ* : Although every person is created in God's image, sin can distort the way we reflect that image. Christian life is a journey of conversion, allowing Christ to transform our attitudes, desires, decisions, and relationships. The goal is not simply to possess a Christian identity but to live in a Christlike manner.

*A deeper reflection:* God has placed His image in every human being. Our vocation is to make that image visible through our lives.

*4) Do we see the greatness of God or the greatness of the coin in human beings? - A Challenge on Mission Sunday*

This is perhaps the most challenging application of Jesus’ words to our modern world. We often say that a person is successful because they earn a high salary, own a large house, drive an expensive car, hold an influential position, or possess considerable wealth. 

But how often do we describe someone as great because they are honest, forgiving, generous, compassionate, and faithful?

Our society sometimes gives greater visibility to the image of money than to the image of God.

*A) We count money more carefully than we count human suffering.* : We carefully check our bank balance. We calculate our income and expenses. We notice when money is missing from our purse or account. But do we notice when kindness is missing from our relationships? Do we notice when an elderly person feels lonely, when a poor family lacks food, or when someone is silently suffering? We may become anxious about losing ₹1,000 but remain unconcerned about the suffering of a person standing before us.

*Question for reflection:* What makes me more uncomfortable: losing money or losing my humanity?

*B) We value people according to what they possess rather than who they are.*: When a wealthy person enters a room, people may rush to welcome them. When a poor person enters the same room, people may hardly notice. The wealthy person may receive a special seat, while the poor person is left standing. The influential person may be treated with honour, while the powerless person is ignored. But in God's eyes, human dignity is not determined by a bank statement. Jesus Himself identified with the hungry, thirsty, strangers, sick, and imprisoned (Matthew 25:31–46).

*Question for reflection:* When I look at a person, do I first see their wealth, position, and usefulness, or do I recognise a brother or sister created in God's image?

*C) We polish the coin but neglect the image of God within us.* : We spend time improving our appearance, decorating our homes, updating our possessions, and building our public image. There is nothing wrong with caring for these things. But do we invest equal effort in developing patience, humility, honesty, generosity, and prayerfulness? We may have a beautiful house but a divided family. We may wear expensive clothes but speak cruel words. We may have a respected title but treat our subordinates without dignity. The outside may shine while the inside needs conversion.

*Question for reflection:* Am I more concerned about how people see me than about the kind of person I am becoming before God?

*D) We allow money to become our master.* : Money is a useful servant, but a dangerous master. When money becomes our master, we may compromise honesty to earn more, neglect our family to advance our careers, exploit workers to increase profits, or refuse to help someone because generosity might reduce our savings.

Jesus warns in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve both God and wealth as rival masters. The problem is not that we possess money. The problem is when money possesses us.

*Question for reflection:* Do I use my money according to my values, or do I change my values to obtain more money?

*5) The contrast: Caesar’s image on the coin and God’s image in the human person*

*The Coin* : Bears Caesar’s image. Carries the emperor’s inscription. Has economic value. Can be earned, spent, lost, or stolen. Belongs to the world of material transactions.

*The Human Person* : Bears God’s image. Has God-given dignity. Has immeasurable personal worth. Must never be treated as a commodity. Is called to love, serve, and live in communion with God.

A coin has a price. A human being has a dignity that cannot be reduced to a price.

This contrast helps us examine the values of our society.

A coin may be important because of what we can purchase with it. A human being is important because of who they are before God.

A coin can be replaced by another coin. But a human person is not a disposable object.

A coin may lose its market value. But an elderly person's dignity does not decrease with age. A sick person's dignity does not disappear with illness. A poor person's dignity does not diminish because of poverty.

Therefore, the Christian question is not simply, How much is this person worth? It is, How can I honour the God-given dignity of this person?

*6) Mission Sunday : Our Mission - Recognize the Image & Likeness*

The Church's mission is not merely to preach about God but also to help people recognise God's image in every human being.

When missionaries educate children, care for the sick, serve the poor, defend human dignity, and reach out to people who are neglected, they proclaim that every person matters to God.

Mission begins when we learn to see people as God sees them.

If we see only the coin, we may ask, "What can this person give me?"

If we recognise God's image, we begin to ask, "What can I do to help this person live with dignity?"

If we see only the coin, we may measure people by their usefulness.

If we see God's image, we recognise their worth even when they cannot do anything for us.

The mission of a Christian is to make God's image more visible in a world increasingly fascinated by money, power, and possessions.

*7) Whose image do I carry?*

The coin bears Caesar's image, but the human being bears God's image. Caesar's image on the coin reminds us of political authority and economic responsibility. God's image in the human person reminds us of our dignity, vocation, and responsibility towards one another.

Jesus does not say that money has no place in our lives. He reminds us that money must remain in its proper place. We can use money, but we must never allow money to determine the worth of a human being. We can possess wealth, but wealth must never possess our hearts. We can hold positions of authority, but we must never forget that every person deserves respect. We can pursue success, but success should never come at the cost of our humanity.

The real tragedy is not that a person has little money. The tragedy is that a person may have plenty of money but very little love. The real poverty is not always an empty purse. Sometimes it is an empty heart. The real greatness is not measured by how much we own but by how much goodness we share.

Let us not allow the greatness of the coin to overshadow the greatness of God in the human person. The coin may carry Caesar's image, but our lives are called to reflect God's image. And when people encounter us, may they see not merely our wealth, our status, or our achievements, but something of the goodness, mercy, and love of God.

*8) Three questions for personal examination*

*What image do I carry?* Do my words, decisions, and relationships reflect the values of Caesar—power, greed, prestige—or the values of God—love, justice, humility, and compassion?

*What do I value most?* Am I more impressed by a person's wealth and position than by their integrity and goodness?

*What image do others see in me?* When people encounter me at home, at work, in the parish, or in society, do they experience something of God's love?

These questions invite us to examine not only our relationship with money but also the kind of people we are becoming.

*9) “One in Christ, United in Mission” - Restoring God's image in the world*

The theme “One in Christ, United in Mission” challenges us to do more than proclaim the Gospel with our lips. We must help restore the visibility of God's image in human relationships and society.

- When we feed the hungry, we honour God's image.

- When we educate a poor child, we affirm human dignity.

- When we welcome a stranger, we make God's hospitality visible.

- When we reconcile divided people, we become instruments of God's peace.

- When we stand beside the neglected, we remind the world that every person matters.

Mission is not simply about travelling to distant places to speak about Christ. It also means transforming the places where we live through the values of Christ. A missionary is someone who helps people discover their God-given dignity and experience God's love through concrete acts of service.

*10) Mission Sunday: Give to God the Things That Are God’s*

*Give God Your Heart* – Love Him wholeheartedly.

*Give God Your Time* – Make time for prayer and His mission.

*Give God Your Talents* – Use your gifts to serve others.

*Give God Your Wealth* – Share generously with the poor and support missionary work.

*Give God Your Hands* – Reach out to the needy and suffering.

*Give God Your Feet* – Go forth to proclaim the Gospel.

*Give God Your Lips* – Speak the Good News with courage and love.

*Give God Your Mind* – Think according to the values of the Gospel.

*Give God Your Will* – Say yes to His call, like Mother Mary.

*Give God Your Life* – Become a living witness to Christ through your words and actions.

“The coin bears Caesar’s image, but the human person bears God’s image. Do not value a human being by the money in their pocket; recognise the dignity of God’s image in their life.”

“Caesar's image may be stamped on a coin, but God's image is stamped on every human heart. Give Caesar his coin, give God your life, and give the world a living witness of Christ.”

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*