I submit that this is one constructive interpretation of
the spirit of Jesus’ words in today’s gospel (Mt. 22: 15-21). Outsmarting those who put him under the trap
of choosing between loyalties to either God and the Emperor, Jesus gives an
elusive answer but with a sound logic of its own when he says “Repay to Caesar what
belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
One easy interpretation of this passage tends to see in
these words the radical autonomy between political and religious spheres. These
two spheres, in this view, may not be in opposition with each other but they
have nothing to do with each other. This
is “to-each-his-own view” or the “two-kingdom theory.” But this interpretation which simply juxtaposes
the two spheres would imply that Caesar and God are of equal footing. This is very unlikely because it is horrible
to see Jesus proposing equality of authority between God and the emperor. No! That’s the height of blasphemy! Jesus has been clear and passionate about
reserving the absolute sovereignty of God and his Kingdom. Everything else for
him is secondary.
While we render basic respect to our earthly rulers, as
it is demanded by the common good in the temporal order, we’ve got to uphold that
respect under our total submission to the sovereignty of God. In the words of
Roland J. Faley, TOR: “The response to God must be total, not in any way
divided. Questions of civil authority are secondary, even peripheral. In submitting totally to the sovereignty of
God, the concerns of lesser authorities will be met. But allegiance to God must
be seen as absolute.”
God’s will for humanity and the social order must be the
vantage point from which we ought to cooperate with other necessary authorities
in ensuring the common good. God wills
that we all live in peaceful, harmonious, just and loving communities. Therefore,
a Christian who believes in this loving God is necessarily a responsible
citizen ever ready to throw his hat into the ring of nation-building. The aim is to build our societies according
to God’s design. Measures that run
contrary to God’s precepts will have moral repercussions.
I’m aware that proclaiming God’s sovereign will is, at
the least, unpopular particularly these days when societies are becoming more
and more secular and even, I say this with shivers, Godless. I think humanity has come to the height of
its arrogance by relegating to the sidelines the God who sustains everything
believing that humanity’s intelligence and creativity is sufficient. The more power a sector of humanity wields,
the more arrogant they become. And what is the result of this arrogance? See
for yourself. Look around. I have a feeling that almost everything is
falling apart. When we realize how
broken this world has become, it’s funny we ask “Where’s God?” “How can a
loving God allow these things, these sufferings to happen?”
An appeal then to those who remain faithful to God: Let our loyalty to God’s will propel us to
become responsible citizens... not arrogant citizens... citizens who continue
to hold God’s vision as our direction for establishing a truly humane society,
respecting and cooperating with rightful and conscientious authorities. Let us not be the cause of the brokenness of
this world because of our human conceit.
Let us be the source of healing instead.
With unwavering faith only in God, we toil and pray that the Lord may
heal our land—this includes Caesar or whoever represents him in our contemporary
system of governance because, he likes it or not, he could use some sincere
prayers.
“Kristiyano ako,
kaya makabayan!” God bless us.
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