Twenty ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 22, 15.21

The hunchbacked Pharisee inside us.

They came to Jesus, and their question was not in the least illogical. The Jews are a chosen, free nation, as every orthodox Israelite knows. The Romans are not at home in Palestine and should leave the Promised Land to the Jews is undeniable. Jesus claims to have come from God, so he should know: God did choose the Jews as his people. Why, then, should a Jew pay taxes to his colonizer, the unjust usurper of power, the enemy of the chosen nation? Jesus also had to know that the emperor should not appear. God does not allow Jews in the Scriptures to portray the king because there is a danger that they will begin to consider him a god. And the emperor is shown on his gold coins as emperor, the only ruler on earth. Taking such money only in the hands is, therefore, at least a temptation of God. The one they believe in the true and only God.

However, the Pharisees are short on Jesus. He wants to see a coin. Without thinking, they take it out of their pockets and present it to the acclaimed wandering teacher. Maybe it was only then that they realized that they had caught up. How is it that they, the exemplary sons of Israel, have pagan money with them? Why not settle for copper Jewish coins to trade with each other? Did gold attract them? Or is the cash with an imperial portrait acceptable for them when dealing with the Romans? Jesus convicted them not only of evil intent but also of the double meter. As far as liabilities are concerned, the taxes to be paid and money with an imperial face is unacceptable. However, if it is a business, it is possible to close your eyes. Pharisees …!

The topic “Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor” is still relevant today. The emperor, in the form of the state, is always asking us for something. It issues laws, expands decrees, and issues various implementing regulations. And as then, it still demands new taxes. The question that bothers us is very similar to that in Jesus’ day: does the state have a right to them? And is the emperor legal at all? As well as the election of the “emperor.” However, we call them senators, deputies, municipal representatives today. So, how is it, Master? Should enter a Christian politics, vote, pay taxes, sing an anthem, honor the president …? After all, we are the chosen people, destined for eternity. It is not our business to take care of earthly things but think of God’s things. After all, we are not children of this world; we are children of God.

And Jesus, as then, does not have to give us an answer directly today. He convicts us with our actions. We give ourselves the solution: do you recognize that it is suitable for people to express their opinions freely? Do you prefer that people gather freely, and do you think it is right for justice to prevail among people? And do you know that the citizens themselves decide in our country whether this is the case? Do you watch what is happening around you, and do you perceive that some regimes suppress these values ​​with their policies? So does politics affect you too? So put into politics what belongs to it. Do you expect a municipality or city to be led by a responsible person? Do you also sometimes swear while watching a parliamentary session? Did it ever occur to you that it doesn’t matter who is at the riverbed because everyone is only interested in power and money? Are you criticizing the government? Why are you interested in what he does and what he asks of you? Why are you claiming it, invoking justice, and expecting it to defend your rights? So put your vote in the ballot box, which belongs there.

Have you ever reported car theft to the police? Did you wait for the police to arrive at the place where drunk people were beaten and threatened the rest of the population? Would you like public school teachers to teach children truthfully and honestly? Do you sometimes come to the pharmacy with a prescription in hand with an automatic request that you will not have to pay the full price for an expensive medicine? Would you like to have to pay the real cost of equipment, laboratory supplies, and surgical procedures for every expensive hospital examination? So give the state what it subsidizes these areas from. So, our indirect answer is, “Yes.” But … what if it’s not all fair, what if it’s abused, what if those fees are disproportionately high …? If so, then the solution for Christians is not to passively leave immoral laws, unjust taxes, and comedic choices in the hands of others, so that we, like Pilate, can wash our hands and declare alibi that we have nothing to do with that injustice and dishonesty. The Christian’s solution is not a cowardly escape from this sometimes sad reality! Or again, believers will wait “for better times” than nothing.