“Master, we know that you are truthful; you are not influenced by anyone, and your answers
do not vary according to who is listening to you, but you truly teach God’s way. Tell us, is it
against the law to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not?” But Jesus saw
through their trick and answered, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a silver coin and let
me see it.” They brought him one and Jesus asked, “Whose image is this, and whose name?”
They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to
God, what is God’s.” And they were greatly astonished.

Reflect

“Sincerity of our hearts.” The Pharisees and the Herodians appeared to be allies in today’s
Gospel in their attempt to ensnare Jesus. The Pharisees themselves were having difficulty
using the denarius whose image and inscription upheld the deification of the Roman Emperor.
Nevertheless, their alliance with the Herodians attested to their own adherence
to the said graven image and their enslavement under it. Jesus saw their malice and the
insincerity of their hearts. Jesus unmasked their hypocrisy. We may reflect on the challenge to
be more sincere with the way we deal with other people in our everyday life. A person who
acts without sincerity is actually a slave. In the end, what matters is not only the action we do
but also the sincerity of our hearts which guides our action. Thus, when we sincerely do our
responsibilities and duties for the sake of others and not for our selfish interest, we become
truer to our status as God’s children. Consequently then, we also become responsive to our
dignity as creatures made in the image and likeness of God.

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