A thought for the twenty-ninth week in Ordinary Time
Today's gospel: "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.'"
It is a matter of vision. If I see Caesar's image, I see a world of power, status, and privilege. I will not see those without wealth, without a voice, without the opportunities to use and share their abilities. If I see God's image, I will see all those made in his image. As the former Master of the Order of Preachers recently put it, I will see "the very image of God made human" (Timothy Radcliffe, OP, "Let God's Grace Cleanse Our Eyes", 10/18/17, torch.op.org). De La Salle knew this as well: "For how long has Jesus been presenting himself to you and
knocking at the door of your heart to make his dwelling within you,
and you have not wanted to receive him? Why? Because he only presents
himself under the form of a poor man, a slave, a man of sorrows" (Med. 85.1); "Recognize Jesus beneath the poor rags of the children whom you
have to instruct; adore him in them. Love poverty, and honor the
poor, following the example of the Magi, for poverty ought to be dear
to you, responsible as you are for the instruction of the poor" (Med. 96.3).
With what image do we view our students? What do we see in them?
Live, Jesus, in our hearts!
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.v
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.
Nothing
belongs
to
Caesar...
anymore
than
anything
belongs
to
those
who
barter
with
the
very
coins
under
dispute.
This
encounter
is
another
example
of
how
the
point
of
God's
revelation
and
love
has
been
missed
by
us,
the
people
he
has
chosen.
To
be
God's
people,
to
become
a
child
of
God
is
to
be
called
towards
the
promised
land
of
sharing
God's
life,
not
struggles
of
territory
and
taxes.