Memory, Image and Identity
By Gian Mayo
October 22, 2017
October 22, 2017
The Gospel today tells us about the people sent by the Pharisees to question Jesus about their concern towards the levying of taxes. Questions arise mostly from man’s curiosity, but sometimes it conceals a hidden malice. This kind of question does not seek to gain knowledge but to condemn people for their opinion. It is disheartening to see that such moments happen even in the present time. They used your opinion in a topic to denounce you as a person, a sort of demolition job aimed for others to get to the top of society. In Jesus’ times, it was a move to discredit his image to the people and especially to the Romans, the people who conquered the province of Judea. However, in the gospel, Jesus identified the fraud on the question and identified the hypocritical gesture of those who ask the question. This shows that malice will not succeed, and it is a lesson for all of us to live truthfully in our lives.
In the act of answering the question, Jesus asked for a Roman coin. Everyone knew that it was Ceasar who can be found in coin, and Jesus tells them to give to Ceasar what is due to Ceasar and give to God what is due to God. Ceasar represents the Roman Empire, an empire which is highly centralized towards taxation and power. The Romans are the perfect example of what is worldly, built massive structures such as aqueducts and the coliseums to showcase their civilization’s greatness. Their projected image would also be their downfall as corruption and greed spread to the empire, leaving it vulnerable to decline.
We are reminded that civilizations do fade, and their greatness becomes part of distant memories. Modern society fails to understand the role of God in our lives. We seek worldly things and temporary satisfaction. We seek the worldly gods, which could not provide all our wants and needs. These things will not fill the hole that God can, and through Him, we can be satisfied. We often hear that we are created in the image and likeness of God, and because of this, we seek for his love and affection. Since our identity is created in his image, we should give time to honor him. Sunday can be defined as a rest day and a family day, yet Sunday is also the time to spend an hour of prayer and thanksgiving to God our father.
In the act of answering the question, Jesus asked for a Roman coin. Everyone knew that it was Ceasar who can be found in coin, and Jesus tells them to give to Ceasar what is due to Ceasar and give to God what is due to God. Ceasar represents the Roman Empire, an empire which is highly centralized towards taxation and power. The Romans are the perfect example of what is worldly, built massive structures such as aqueducts and the coliseums to showcase their civilization’s greatness. Their projected image would also be their downfall as corruption and greed spread to the empire, leaving it vulnerable to decline.
We are reminded that civilizations do fade, and their greatness becomes part of distant memories. Modern society fails to understand the role of God in our lives. We seek worldly things and temporary satisfaction. We seek the worldly gods, which could not provide all our wants and needs. These things will not fill the hole that God can, and through Him, we can be satisfied. We often hear that we are created in the image and likeness of God, and because of this, we seek for his love and affection. Since our identity is created in his image, we should give time to honor him. Sunday can be defined as a rest day and a family day, yet Sunday is also the time to spend an hour of prayer and thanksgiving to God our father.