Sunday, October 18, 2026: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21
The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. 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. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” 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.”
Reflection
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
While the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech, their disciples went to Jesus and tried to entrap Him themselves.
My husband, the catechist, patiently tried to explain the context of the time and the meaning of “the trick” – how the Pharisees were always trying to catch Jesus in some kind of failure to adhere to the law.
How can I make sense of this type of entrapment, when the trick is embedded in a time so different from my own? I find myself distracted by the words, “Give Caesar what is Caesar’s.”
Still, I can sense the mockery of the whole thing. I can sense the scorn directed toward Jesus in this scenario. And yet, beneath it all, I sense a hidden truth for me:
Jesus always has a better way.
Rather than continuing to try to understand the trick that was being attempted, I listen to Jesus’ second direction:
“Give to God what belongs to God.”
I look around my study, my room for quiet meditation – my books, photographs of my family, and keepsakes from long ago. I look out the window as I ponder:
What does it mean to give to God what is God’s?
What I found in the digital world – thanks to Providence and my efficient laptop – is this meditation posted on the most humble website for the Salvation Army. It is worth the read and the listen.
The meditation features words from Matthias Claudius, the author of the familiar Thanksgiving hymn “All Good Gifts Around Us.”
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His Love!
He only is the maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower;
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him;
By Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children,
He gives our daily bread.
Action
Try to imagine yourself handing to God what is God’s.
It is a little like the foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday. As I hold my cupped hands, I imagine placing into them all that is good – and then offering it back to God.
All that is good is God’s.
What, then, am I holding in my hands today that I can gratefully return to God?
