October 19, 2014
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 18/19, 2014
"Getting to the heart of the matter” is a phrase when we use when we are trying to sort through issues to find out what really matters. Any number of factors can muddle a situation and leave us confused and uncertain about what is most important. And the heart is really the center where life beats.
In today’s Gospel reading we see Jesus as they say cut to the chase. The Pharisees and the Herodians come to Jesus and present to him an apparent dilemma in which they hope to entrap him. They flatter him at first by saying he is a truthful man, teaches the way of God, and is not swayed by anyone’s opinion. Then they present their trick question: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Jesus knows this is an inflammatory question but simply responds: Pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. Jesus gets to the heart of the matter and leaves them speechless. He basically tells them to get their priorities in order.
When faced with dilemmas in life, that’s what we all would hope to do: sort things out and see what our real priorities are. And isn’t that where the gospel message comes into play. Over and over again Jesus tells us that if we place God first and foremost in our lives, then we get to the heart of the matter. Keeping our eyes focused on God so much more becomes clear.
Life can get pretty complicated from time to time: whether it’s ill health, or family conflicts; money worries or growing imitations. God doesn’t offer us easy answers or solutions. But keeping God as our focus helps put things in perspective and eases our minds and hearts.
So getting to the heart of the matter doesn’t have to be real complicated if we render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.