Daily Reflection

Daily Reflection Archives

October 18

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Reflection

 “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,
and to God the things that are God’s.” 

Matthew 22:15-21

Our first reaction to the gospel lesson today might lead us to want to cheer and say, “Yeah, for Jesus.” He saw right through the trap that was being set for him and sent his enemies away in humiliation and dismay. But that’s only a superficial understanding of today’s gospel. Jesus asks, “Whose inscription, whose image,” they say, “Caesar’s.”  So then Jesus says, “Well then, because his image and his inscription are on it, it belongs to Caesar.”  They couldn’t miss the implication that Jesus had something deeper in mind. Whose image do we bear, whose image did they bear?  They knew that every human person, every one of us, is made in the image and likeness of God. This means that God has total sovereignty over us and over all that we do. We are responsible only to God, as is all of creation. God is sovereign over all of creation, every person, everything in the created universe. And so, just as that coin that had Caesar image on it and showed his sovereignty over it, so too we bear God’s image and God’s sovereignty is over all of us.  We must have the courage to follow God who is truly sovereign over our lives.
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton

Prayer

May I be able to discern the truth clearly.

Action

When you required to discern the truth between the way of God and the way of Caesar
what is your reference point? How do you choose?

Suggested Reading

Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter who you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone. Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said,”Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius. He asked them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Matthew 22:15-21

 Every Christian must be convinced of his fundamental and vital duty of bearing witness to the truth in which he believes and the grace that has transformed him.
Pope John XXIII

The most important thought that ever occupied my mind is that of my individual responsibility to God.
Daniel Webster

 We need to realize that in all things our first duty and responsibility is to God.
Harry Ironside

Everything begins with the right priorities, and right priorities begin with God.
Woodrow Kroll

To say you have no choice is to relieve yourself of responsibility.
Patrick Ness

The right thing to do and the hard thing to do are usually the same.
Steve Maraboli