Commentaries

29th Sunday - A

Matthew 22: 15 - 21

Is it convenient for me?

The Pharisees and the Herodians are at odds with each other when it comes to the issue of paying taxes to the Roman authorities, especially what known as the toll tax . For the Pharisees, who staunchly defend the Jewish religion and national identity, the only true ruler for Israel is God. Therefore, paying taxes to a human ruler, worse, a foreign ruler, is the equivalence of denouncing God. The Herodians, on the contrary, who have come to power thanks to Roman protection, Roman taxation is a matter of survival.

Yet, surprisingly, the two opposite groups join force in questioning Jesus' position on the issue of paying taxes. They decide to work together because it's convenient for them to destroy the common enemy - Jesus.

Jesus catches them at their very act. They want to trick Jesus, but it backfires. They are ready and willing to enjoy Ceasar's economic system. The fact is that they carry his coins with them. Yet, they want to appear righteous when they challenge Jesus. Again, they do things that are convenient to them.

In the second reading for this Sunday, St. Paul reminds us, as he reminded the Thessalonians, that we are "chosen and loved by God" (1 Thess. 1:4). We should ask ourselves, "Do I strive to live as a child of God all the times, or only when it is convenient?"