OBEDIENCE, THE CONDITION OF THE GOOD CITIZEN.
October 22, 2023.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A.
"Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to
pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Mt 22:17
A Russian proverb says: “A good citizen owes his life to his
country.” A Romanian proverb adds: “The law is good if a man uses it lawfully.”
The good citizen is above and, before all, a lawful,
law-abiding citizen. This goes beyond religion and denominations. We can not
live in a society and disregard the rules that regulate social life. What makes
us people and citizens of a place is the respect we give to the rules of that
place. As Christians, our faith itself calls us to obedience, not only to God
but also to the laws of our countries.
The Christian in society, here is what today's readings, and
mostly the Gospel make us think of. How must Christians behave in the world and
society?
A beautiful ancient literature, dated from the first
centuries, gives us to reflect on the relevance of this question. It is the
Letter to Diognetus. It speaks of the Christians in the world. "Christians
are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or
customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange
dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based
upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they
champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of
life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be
living in, whether it is Greek or foreign. And yet there is something
extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though
they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but
labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland,
but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like
others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share
their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not
governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they
are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that
transcends the law. Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned
because they are not understood..."
Though this letter is dated back 397-401, its content is
actual and questions our lives and the events today. You are Christians, so
citizens of God's Kingdom, but you are also human, and that makes you a citizen
of the place where you live. You are, therefore, with your dual citizenship
bound to the Law of God and the law of society. You cannot exempt yourself from
being a good citizen. You also cannot find an excuse for not being a good
Christian. Your faith must be lived in the society and along the lines the law
orients it.
A question from the Pharisees and the Scribes to Jesus:
"Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” And the answer of
Jesus was without equivoque: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God
what belongs to God.”
The Lord, through this simple answer to the trick of his
adversaries, gives us a great lesson on citizenship. Living in society, we have
in mind to comply with the rules of society. If the law compiles us to pay
taxes, we should not find any excuse, not even because of our religiosity or
belief to not do it. Faith is also about justice. As Christians, we should be
heralds and models of social justice and legality. This goes even to the point
that we deal with each other. You are a head of office or own a small business,
and you have people under your responsibility. Treat them not only with respect
but also with justice. Pay them as the law and regulations demand, and if
beyond you can do more, add charity to your justice.
Obey to authorities and political leaders. Did St. Paul not
warn the Romans, saying: “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For
all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been
placed there by God” (Romans 13:1). This is proved true as we hear the Lord
saying about Cyrus the Pagan King in the first reading: "I have grasped
the right hand of Cyrus to subdue the nations before you." He made use of
a Pagan King, a King who did not know him or pray him to save his people. Let's
also look at the politicians and leaders we have today in our societies as
instruments of God to lead us toward him and turn back to him. Faith goes
together and is well expressed in obedience. Obedience is primarily due to God
but also to our leaders. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God
what belongs to God.”
Another greatest truth in this statement of the Lord is that
there is nothing that belongs to Caesar that had not been given to him by God.
So, even Caesar himself belongs to God. Therefore, by obeying Caesar's
authority, we also obey God, who instituted him as leader. Our obedience to law
and leaders should be without compromising God’s sovereignty.
We could have all the complaints and rights to criticize or
judge our political leaders, but may we never fall into the temptation of
breaking the law because of them. Politicians may be corrupt, unlawful, and
evil in their choices and decisions. It is your right to accuse them, but to
imitate them becoming unlawful too.
On their side, our leaders must make room for the sound
practice of our faith and religiosity. No society and no law must suppress or
exert force on anyone because of his religious beliefs or faith. To God what
belongs to God...
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