October 18, 2026
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 145
Reading 1
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel, my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (7b) Give the Lord glory and honor.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Worship the LORD, in holy attire;
tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations: The LORD is king,
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Reading 2
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the
Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace.
We give thanks to God always for all of you,
remembering you in our prayers,
unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love
and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father,
knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God,
how you were chosen.
For our gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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."
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101826.cfm
Commentary on Isaiah
45:1,4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21
During past Sundays, we have seen Jesus attacking the
religious leaders of his people for their failure to recognise in him the Word
of God, the power of God, the compassionate love of God. All they could see was
a man who broke their laws. Today, in the first of four challenges by different
leaders, they hit back. Their plan was to get Jesus to discredit himself. The
first challenge, in today’s Gospel, comes from the Pharisees. Their deviousness
is seen in the delegation they sent—a mixture of their disciples (not
themselves) and some Herodians.
It was a strange mixture because Pharisees and Herodians
were bitterly opposed to each other. The Pharisees were rabid nationalists and
totally anti-Roman; the Herodians were willing to collaborate with the Romans,
hoping to benefit from it. In the language of today, they would be called ‘appeasers’.
It was a perfect example of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Both sides
hated each other, but they hated Jesus even more and both had scores to settle.
Or did they hope by sending such a mixed delegation, Jesus would be thrown off
the scent of their real purpose?
Their opening statement is clever and very flattering. They
praise the utter honesty and integrity of Jesus. All of which was perfectly
true. Jesus, in fact, is being praised as endowed with God’s own sense of truth
and justice, totally impartial, with perhaps a bias for the poor, the weak and
powerless.
And it is precisely in this strength of Jesus—telling it
like it is without fear or favour—that they hope to entrap him.
Deceptively simple
After this flattering softening-up and linguistic foreplay comes the apparently
straightforward question:
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes
to Caesar or not?
In fact, this seemingly simple question addressed a red-hot
issue. Palestine was a colony of Rome, a very unwilling and troublesome colony.
The Jews hated the Romans, hated their brutality, their moral corruption
and, above all, their godlessness. So, the nationalistic Pharisees
felt that the taxes should not be paid to the oppressor. It was, one might say,
an early version of “No taxation without representation”. On the contrary, for
the Herodians, collaboration with the Romans was seen as beneficial.
Clearly it was a loaded question. If Jesus said taxes should
not be paid, he would have pleased the Pharisees, but they could report him for
sedition and have him arrested. If he said taxes should be paid, he might
please the Herodians, but almost certainly he would lose all credibility with
his own people.
The Jews believed that they had only one Lord and Ruler and
that was their God. Taxes, or any form of submission, should only be made to
him through offerings made in God’s Temple. Today’s First Reading from Isaiah
makes it clear that Cyrus, one of the great kings of antiquity with enormous
power and who had made vassals of the Jews, was seen as never more than an
agent doing God’s work.
Hypocrisy
Jesus, of course, is perfectly aware of the dangers in giving a straight
answer. He accuses them of gross hypocrisy in setting this trap. They have no
desire to know the answer. They have their own answers already. Their only
intention is to lay a trap for Jesus to hang himself with.
Jesus asks them to show him a coin. He asks to know whose
image and what inscription are on it. The head was that of Tiberius Caesar, the
Roman emperor of the day. The inscription would have read, “Tiberius Caesar son
of the divine Augustus, great high priest”. Caesar claimed not only political
sovereignty, but also divine attributes. Worship of the emperor was seen as a
test of loyalty to the not very religious central government, and would soon
become a major issue for the early Christians as it was already for the Jews.
For both groups, worship given to the Roman emperor could be nothing but
idolatry. Even though, for some, it was seen only as a matter of formality,
Christians and Jews took it very seriously and many were martyred for their
refusal to bow to the emperor. Even today in various parts of the world, there
are Christians whose lives are in danger because of their faith when they
refuse to acquiesce to the absolute power some governments have over their
lives. The church must go “underground” for those Christians to worship.
A famous reply
Jesus then gives his famous answer:
Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and
to God the things that are God’s.
The answer should not be understood cynically and in line
with those who thought that no allegiance at all belongs to the ruling power
(e.g. the anarchist line), nor, on the other hand, that a civil power has the
right to demand total submission of its subjects. No state can claim to itself
divine powers of absolute authority (e.g. atheistic dictatorships). All are
subject to the higher demands of truth and justice and the inviolable dignity
of the person centred in God.
We all are, in some way, the citizens of two kingdoms:
citizens of the political territory where we live and citizens in God’s
Kingdom. As Jesus says, they both require certain loyalties from us.
We all depend to a large extent on our civil government. In
modern times very few people can supply their own water, electricity, telephone
system. There are many other services which only a civil authority can provide,
such as education, hospitals, roads, welfare services for the unemployed, the
disabled, the elderly and other vulnerable people.
It is obvious that, for these services
to continue and even be improved, requiresthe cooperation and support
of the community at large. We do this for the most part through paying
taxes. Taxes are not just a necessary evil. In a just administration they are our
contribution to making the services we take for granted available. In a just
tax system, too, we help to spread more evenly the wealth of the community so
that each one has access to what they need for a life of human dignity.
Supporting our community
There are many other ways, too, in which we can give our support to raising the
quality of life in the community. All of this can be seen as giving to “Caesar
the things that are Caesar’s”. One, unfortunately, does meet people whose only
interest is in seeing what they can get out of the community for themselves
with no intention of ever giving anything back.
But we are also citizens of God’s Kingdom. For much of the
time, there is no conflict between “Caesar” and God, but not always. We do
sometimes, from the standpoint of the Gospel, have to criticise our
government’s actions or non-actions. Sometimes we even have to refuse to obey
our government. Even today, in some places in the world, Christians are forced
to violate the immoral laws of their government. And this is not just in the
so-called ‘third world’ countries; we see it in the industrialized west as
well. In the name of truth, justice and human dignity, sometimes there is
simply no option.
And we need to realise that when we really love our country
and its people, then we may have to stand in strong opposition to the
authorities on certain issues. Of course, the authorities will try to present
such people as traitors and a threat to the stability of the country. But such
people, who show they care, often have a far greater love for their country
than a so-called “silent majority”.
Two responsibilities
Today’s Gospel makes it very clear that we have responsibilities to two
authorities: to the government of our country or territory and to
God. Where the two are in harmony there will be no conflict.
Wherever there is immoral or unjust behaviour against people’s dignity and
rights, then there has to be conflict.
Such conflict is not always bad. On the contrary, it is
because of creative conflict that our society makes progress. Provided we
always act in a positive and creative way, “but speaking the truth in love”
(Eph 4:15), then the flawed kingdoms that men build can, in time, become the
Kingdom of God. As a famous dissident and martyr, St Thomas More, said:
The King’s good servant, but God’s first.
https://sacredspace.com/commentary/oa291/
Sunday,
October 18, 2026
Twenty-ninth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, send Your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures
with the same mind that You read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In
the light of the Word, written in the Bible, You helped them to discover the
presence of God in the disturbing events of Your sentence and death. Thus, the
cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life
and of resurrection. Create silence in us so that we may listen to Your voice
in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the
poor and suffering. May Your word guide us so that we too, like the two
disciples on the way to Emmaus, may experience the force of Your resurrection
and witness to others that You are alive in our midst as source of fraternity,
justice and peace. We ask this of You, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed the
Father to us and sent us Your Spirit. Amen.
Gospel Text: Matthew 22: 15-21
A
Division of the Text to Help with the Reading:
• Matthew 22: 15-17: The question of
the Pharisees and Herodians • Matthew 22: 18-21: Jesus’ reply A Key to the Reading:
Jesus comes from Galilee to Jerusalem for the annual feast
of the Pasch. As He enters the city, He is acclaimed by the people (Mt
21:1-11). He immediately goes to the temple where He drives the vendors away
(Mt 21:12-16). Although He stays in Jerusalem, He spends the nights outside the
city and returns to the city in the morning (Mt 21:17). The situation is very
tense. In His discussions with the authorities, the high priests, the elders
and the Pharisees in Jerusalem, Jesus expresses Himself in parables (Mt 21:23 –
22:14). They would like to get hold of Him, but they are afraid (Mt 21:45-46).
This Sunday’s Gospel on the tribute due to Caesar (Mt 22:15-21) is situated
within this general state of conflict between Jesus and the authorities. Text:
15 Then the Pharisees went away to work out between them how
to trap Him in what He said. 16 And they sent their disciples to Him, together
with some Herodians, to say, 'Master, we know that You are an honest man and
teach the way of God in all honesty, and that You are not afraid of anyone,
because human rank means nothing to You. 17 Give us your opinion, then. Is it
permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?' 18 But Jesus was aware of their
malice and replied, 'You hypocrites! Why are you putting Me to the test? 19
Show Me the money you pay the tax with.' They handed Him a denarius, 20 and He
said, 'Whose portrait is this? Whose title?' 21 They replied, 'Caesar's.' Then
He said to them, 'Very well, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God
what belongs to God.'
A Moment of Prayerful Silence
so that the
Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
Some Questions
to help us
in our personal reflection.
•
Which part of the text touched you most? Why?
•
Which groups in power are getting ready to set a
trap for Jesus? What kind of trap?
•
What did Jesus do to get out of the trap laid by
the powerful?
•
For today, what does the saying, “Pay Caesar
what belongs to Caesar and God what belongs to God” mean?
Go Deeper into the Theme
The
context of our text in the Gospel of Matthew:
As we were saying, the context of the
Gospel of the 29th Sunday is the debate between Jesus and the authorities. It
begins with the discussion with the priests and elders on the authority of
Jesus (Mt 21: 23-27). Then comes the parable of the two sons where Jesus
denounces the hypocrisy of some groups (Mt 21: 2832). There follow two
parables, one of the murderous wine growers (Mt 21: 33-46) and another
concerning those who are invited but refuse to attend the wedding feast (Mt 22:
1-14). At this point in our text (Mt 22: 15-22) the Pharisees and the Herodians
enter to set a trap. They ask Him about the tribute to be paid to the Romans.
It was a tricky question that divided public opinion. They wanted to accuse Jesus
and so lessen His influence over the people. The Sadducees immediately begin to
question Him on the resurrection of the dead, another controversial question
and cause of dissent between the Sadducees and the Pharisees (Mt 22: 23-33). It
all ends with a discussion on the greatest commandment of all (Mt 22: 34-40)
and the Messiah as son of David (Mt 22: 41-
45).
Like Jesus, the Christians of the communities in Syria and
Palestine for whom Matthew was writing his Gospel were accused and questioned
by the authorities, by other groups, and by their neighbors who felt
uncomfortable because of the witness of the disciples. When reading these
episodes of conflict with the authorities, they felt comforted and encouraged
to continue on their journey.
A
commentary on the text:
•
Matthew 22: 15-17: The question of the Pharisees
and Herodians.
The Pharisees and Herodians were the local authorities who
did not enjoy popular support in Galilee. They had decided that it was time to
kill Jesus (Mt 12:14; Mk 3:6). Now, by order of the priests and elders, they
want to know whether Jesus is in favor of, or against, paying tribute to the
Romans: a deliberate question and full of malice! Under the guise of fidelity
to the law of God, they seek reasons for accusing Him. If Jesus were to say,
“You must pay!” they would accuse Him, together with the people, of being a
friend of the Romans. If He were to say, “You must not pay!” they would accuse
Him of being a subversive. A dead end!
•
Matthew 22: 18-21a: Jesus’ reply: Show Me a
coin.
Jesus is aware of their hypocrisy. In His
reply, He wastes no time in useless discussion and goes directly to the heart
of the question: “Whose portrait is this? Whose title?” They answer,
“Caesar’s!”
•
Matthew 22: 21b: Jesus’ conclusion
Jesus then draws the conclusion: “Pay to Caesar what
belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God!” In fact, they had already
acknowledged Caesar’s authority. They already paid Caesar what belonged to
Caesar since they used his money to buy and sell and even to pay the tribute to
the Temple! Hence, the question was useless.
Why ask something whose answer was clear in practice?
They, who by their question pretended to be servants of God, were in fact
forgetting the most important thing: they forgot to give God what belongs to
God! What mattered to Jesus was that “they pay to God what belongs to God”,
that is, they mislead the people that they had led away from God through their
own fault, because through their teachings they prevented people from entering
the Kingdom (Mt 23:13). Rather say, “Pay to God what belongs to God”, which is,
practice justice and honesty according to the demands of the law of God,
because by your hypocrisy your are denying God what is due to Him. The
disciples must be aware of this, because it was the hypocrisy of these
Pharisees and Herodians that was blinding their eyes! (Mk 8:15).
A
Deepening: Levies, Tributes, Taxes and Tithes:
In Jesus’ time, the people of Palestine paid very many
levies, taxes, tributes, fines, contributions, donations and tithes. Some
scholars calculate that half of a family’s
income went to pay levies. Here is a list that gives an idea of all that
the people paid in levies:
•
Direct
levies on properties and persons:
•
Levy on property (tributum soli). The taxation officers of the government checked on
properties, production, the number of slaves and then fixed the amount to be
paid. Periodically, new taxation amounts were set in accordance with census
taken.
•
Levies on persons (tributum capitis): for the poor without land, which included women
and men between the ages of 12 and 65 years. The levy on the workforce was 20%
of the income of every individual.
•
Indirect
Levies on Various Transactions:
•
Golden crown: Originally this was a gift to the
emperor, but then became a compulsory levy. It was paid on special occasions
such as feasts or visits of the emperor.
•
Salt levy: Salt was the emperor’s monopoly. The
tribute was paid on salt for commercial use, for instance, salt used by
fishermen to salt fish. That is the origin of the word “salary.”
•
Levy on buying and selling: For each commercial
transaction there was a levy of 1%. It was the taxation officers who collected
this money. For the purchase of a slave they asked for 2%.
•
Levy on professional practice: For anything at
all one needed a permit. For instance, a shoemaker in Palmira paid one denarius
per month. One denarius was equivalent to a day’s salary. Even prostitutes had
to pay.
•
Levy on the use of public utilities: Emperor
Vespasian introduced a levy on the use of public baths in Rome. He used to say,
“Money has no smell!”
•
Other
Taxes and Obligations:
•
Toll: This was a levy on the movement of
merchandise, collected by Publicans. Tolls were paid on the road. At certain
points there were soldiers who forced those who were reluctant to pay.
•
Forced labor: Everyone could be forced to render
some service to the State for five years, without remuneration.
•
Special subsidy for the armed forces: People
were obliged to offer hospitality to soldiers. People also had to pay a certain
amount of money for the nourishment and support of the troops.
•
Levy for
the Temple and for Cult:
•
Shekalim: This was the levy for the upkeep of
the Temple.
•
Tithe: This was the levy for the upkeep of the
priests. “Tithe” means the tenth part!
•
First fruits: This was the levy for the upkeep
of the cult. The authorities collected the first fruits of all land products.
Psalm 12
Against lying lips
Help, Yahweh! No one loyal is
left, the faithful have vanished from among the children of Adam. Friend tells
lies to friend, and, smooth-tongued, speaks from an insincere heart.
May Yahweh cut away every smooth lip, every boastful tongue,
those who say,
'In our tongue lies our strength, our lips are our allies;
who can master us?'
'For the poor who are plundered, the needy who groan, now
will I act,' says Yahweh, 'I will grant salvation to those who sigh for it.'
Yahweh's promises are promises unalloyed, natural silver which comes from the
earth seven times refined. You, Yahweh, will watch over them, you will protect
them from that brood for ever. The wicked will scatter in every direction, as
the height of depravity among the children of Adam.
Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for the word that has enabled us to
understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions
and grant us the strength to practice what Your Word has revealed to us. May
we, like Mary, Your mother, not only listen to but also practice the Word, You
who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and
ever. Amen.
