“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22.21)

Jesus seems to distinguish between what we owe to Caesar and what we owe to God. But is that really what the Gospel lesson is about?  No. The basic message of today’s Gospel is that we belong to God, and must return ourselves to him. It is by no means a recommendation that we should divide our allegiance between Caesar and God, because, in fact, all things are God’s, Caesar is not a God, whatever his pretensions. Our spiritual life is one, expressing itself in both civic and religious occupations. In every activity, whether sacred or secular, it is our duty to render to God our whole selves. Our offices and duties are many, but our allegiance is one: “Render unto God the things which are God’s.”