Homilies

29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: WE ARE BOTH CITIZENS OF GOD AND OF THE COUNTRY

THE QUESTION OF the Pharisees was not easy for Jesus to answer.  In fact, Jesus was in a no-win situation. Had he said that the tax should be paid, he would appear himself as a traitor to his country, he would lose his special calling as the people’s messiah. Had he said that the tax should not be paid, he would be imprisoned because such a denial would make him an enemy of Rome.

Cognizant of their malicious thought, Jesus gave them an answer that somehow frustrated them: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”. The answer of Jesus was meant to challenge the people, the Pharisees included, to be serious in their responsibility to God, and in their responsibility to the state. Both God and the state have a claim over the people, but not one would cancel the other. What does this gospel say to us?

First, the gospel reminds us the complexity of the state of human beings. On the one hand, we are members of the Church, and on the other, we are citizens of the country. The Church has an obligation to us, the faithful, and the state too has an obligation to us, its citizens. We, Christians, have duties and responsibilities to the Church, and as citizens of the country, we also have duties and responsibilities to the state. In other words, a person has a twofold direction or concern: Church and state. But the teachings of the Church make it clear that a Christian should bring the gospel to every aspect of his/her life. Conflicts are a rarity. Most often, fulfilling the laws of the country does not contradict our following to God’s will.

Second, the gospel brings to the fore the question on the separation between the Church and the state. However, it should be noted that the separation between the Church and state is not absolute. At times, tensions can exist between our fidelity to God and our duty to the state. This happens when certain political issues run into conflict with religious questions, such as faith and morals. A case in point is the controversial Reproductive Health bill. Some legislators were annoyed by the so-called Church interference in the political scene. But they should think that the bill is not only a political question, but more of a moral question. If the Church “intervenes,” it is because she has the duty to protect the well-being of the faithful, and to guide the faithful to a deeper truth. This is one matter that they should understand why the Church intervenes.

Third, the gospel leads us to deeper reflection on the relationship between Church and state. While we try to emphasize the separation between these two institutions, we cannot dismiss the fact that there are also instances where the two institutions meet, they complement each other. For example, providing shelter or housing to citizens is a primary responsibility of the state. But the state does not seem to make progress in its obligation. This prompted some leaders and organizations in the Church to provide housing for the homeless. We have heard of Cardinal Sin’s Village, and we have heard as well of Gawad Kalinga, which is a project of lay Catholics. These are all initiatives coming from the Church. Can this be seen as an attack to the separation between the Church and State?
 

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