29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

WHOSE LIKENESS AND INSCRIPTION IS THIS?
From a commentary by Lawrence of Brindisi1
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In today’s gospel we find two questions: one put to Christ by the Pharisees,
and the other put by him to them. The Pharisees’ question concerns this world
alone, while Christ’s has an entirely heavenly and other-worldly sense. Their
question derived from profound ignorance and perversity; his stemmed from
perfect wisdom and goodness.

Whose likeness and inscription is this? Caesar’s, they reply. Then give to
Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. To each, he
says, must be given what belongs to him. This, surely, is a judgment full of heavenly
wisdom and instruction. For it teaches that authority is twofold, having an earthly
and human aspect, and a heavenly and divine aspect. It teaches that we owe a
twofold duty of obedience: to the human laws and to the law of God. The coin
bearing Caesar’s likeness and inscription must be given to Caesar, and the one
stamped with the divine image and likeness must be given to God. We bear the
imprint of your glorious face, O Lord.

We are made in the image and likeness of God. So you, O Christian, because
you are a human being, are God’s tribute money – a little coin bearing the image
and likeness of the divine emperor. Therefore with Christ I ask: Whose likeness and
inscription is this? Your answer is, God’s. To which I reply, Then why not give God
what belongs to him?

If we really want to be God’s image, we must be like Christ, for his is the image of God’s goodness and the perfect copy of his nature, and God foreordained
that those he has chosen should take on a likeness to his Son. Christ undoubtedly
gave Caesar what was Caesar’s and God what was God’s. He fulfilled to perfection
the precepts of both tablets of the law, becoming obedient unto death, even death
on a cross, and he was most highly endowed, both inwardly and outwardly, with
every virtue.

In today’s gospel the reply, most wise and discreet, by which Christ
sidestepped his enemies’ trap shows his great prudence. His teaching that each
must be given what belongs to him, and also the example he gave by being willing
to pay the temple tax and giving a shekel for himself and Peter, shows his justice.
His declaring it to be a duty to pay taxes to Caesar, openly teaching the truth
without fear of the Jews who would be offended, shows his fortitude. For this is
God’s way, of which Christ is the authentic teacher.

Those therefore who resemble Christ in their lives, conduct and practice of
virtues, they are the ones who manifest the divine image; for the way to recover
this image is by being absolutely just. Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and
to God the things that are God’s; that is, give to each what belongs to him.

1
Journey with the Fathers – Year A – New City Press – NY -1999 – pg 134-135.