Homily for Tuesday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st June, 2021. The Memorial of St Justin the Martyr

 Homily for Tuesday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time  Year B, 1st June, 2021. The Memorial of St Justin the Martyr

Reading: Tobit 2:9-14; Ps. 112; Mark12:13-17

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

GIVE BACK TO CAESAR WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR AND TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD

At the time of Jesus, one of the great means of exchange is the use of coin, A coin as we know is a small, flat, round piece of metal used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender use in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by the government with a particular images, numerals and inscriptions. It is a very important commodity use in payment of taxes and other important goods, this gives great value to anyone who has enough for it in his possession.

So in the occasion of our Gospel passage today, when the Pharisees and Herodians attempted to trap Jesus using the mandatory law of paying tax to Caesar. It was a serious trap for Jesus, because a negative response from him would make him a serious enemy of Rome; a positive response would make him lose the trust of his own people, who generally detest paying this tax. Thus, Jesus said to them: “why do you set this trap for me? Bring me a coin and let me see it.’ They handed him one and he said, ‘Whose image and inscriptions is it?’ Caesar’s they told him. Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’ This reply took them completely by surprise.

But what do this reply means? Here Jesus requests a coin; he secures the coin; he inquires about the image and inscription of the coin; and they respond by identifying the coin with Caesar. In the context of these actions Jesus is probably holding the coin this implies that the true image of the coin is in his possession but the empirical image and inscription of the coin are the sum total of the things that belong to Caesar. In order words the true image and inscriptions of anything comes and belongs to God. 

However the empirical image of corruption, greediness, pride, operation and deception that are found in this coin belongs to Caesar and should be rendered back to him. Thus, Jesus affirms, that one’s obligation to the government is necessary as long as it is for the good of all, while insisting that one’s obligation to God is always greater and this should be done by rendering the true image of the coin to God which ultimately belongs to Him.

Dear friends, in one way or the other we all possess the coins of this life, but whose image and inscription is in the coin we possess. Are we possessing the coin with the true image and inscription of God or the coin with the empirical image of sin, corruption, greed, selfishness and deception? Today Jesus is telling us to render back to the Caesars of this world all the ugly and sinful coins in our possession for they belong to them. While rendering to God the true image of the coin with the inscription of holiness, love, mercy, forgiveness, charity for they truly belongs to God.

When this is done we will hear the consoling words of God like that of Tobit's wife as we have it in our first reading saying: ‘What about your own charitable deeds? What about your own good works? Everyone knows what return you have had for them.’ Therefore, today as we celebrate the Memorial of St. Justin the Martyr, we are called to remain steadfast in the midst of persecutions and operations as we try to maintain peaceful coexistence between the Church and the state, just like Justin. For St. Justin as we know was a renowned early Church Father and a philosopher who was once a pagan but then after a fateful encounter with a wise old Christian man, became a Christian. 

Justin later established a well-known catechetical school of philosophy in Rome, and through his writings defended and spread the Christian faith. And also through his writings, he tried to convince Emperor Marcus Aurelius, another famous philosopher, to end the persecution of Christians by the Roman state which lead to his martyrdom with some of his followers in the year 165. Today however, St. Justin no doubt, has shown us through his works and interactions, with pagan philosophers and even with the Emperor, that it is indeed possible to be fully faithful and committed to God, while living in harmony as a law-abiding citizens of the community and the state even in the midst of persecutions and operations as we experience in our societies today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, whose providence never fails in its design, grant that through the intercessions of St Justin the Martyr, we may always render to you what really belongs to you, as we do away with all that offends you and our fellow neighbours and so live in harmony with the authority of the state. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New Month and do have a blessed day.