Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

 

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:13-17

 

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone's opinion. You do not regard a person's status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?" Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at." They brought one to him and he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They replied to him, "Caesar's." So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." They were utterly amazed at him.

 

In the time of Christ, the rulers would stamp their image on the coins signifying their control. Caesar’s image was on the coin; therefore, the coin belonged to Caesar. But who’s image is stamped on your heart. God stamps his image on our heart at the very moment we are conceived. We are “created in his image and likeness”; therefore, we belong to God. Our life is the greatest gift which God has given us and it is the most valuable thing we can give back. To give our life to God is to repay to God what rightfully belongs to him. But when we give our life to material wants and desires, we deny God and separate ourselves from his bounty. When someone sees you, can they recognize the face of God within you? Whose face do you portray? When we give back to God what is his; we give faith, hope and love to others. By giving to others, you are giving what belongs to God back to him. You can never adequately pay God what you owe him, but you can give him yourself, the most valuable gift that you have.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, your image is pressed in my soul and my heart.

May I honor your image and may it grow in value.

Give me the strength to do your will to others.

Give me the strength to share my faith, hope and love of Christ.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon