It's tax season: time to render unto Caesar

Tax season is upon as, and I reminded of Matthew 22:17-22:

Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”

Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?

Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin.

He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”

They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.

I wonder if perhaps some were hoping Jesus would say, right, the taxes don’t matter, you can skip that. Wouldn’t that be nice?

What does it mean to “render unto Caesar?” Why do we have this saying from our Lord, Jesus Christ?

I see this as related to God’s imperative to live in this world. Yes, there certainly are elements of the call to obedience here. But more importantly - and something highly relevant in our virtual, escapist world - is that Jesus is commanding us to live in this world that God created for us. This is an especially important, and overlooked, part of the faith; that we, unlike more “zen” forms of faith, do not seek to physically overcome this world. Creation is not bad, it is not a mistake, and the physical world is here for our use and purpose. Specifically, creation was also good because God created it in love. Then, Jesus taking on the human form elevated it even further.

So, living in this world means that one will have to do unpleasant and real things like pay taxes. Further, it is in the every day personal sacrifices, routines, and obligations, that we can be led to holiness.

Because then, it also an opportunity to remember that all we have is a gift from God. “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of the Lord.” Can you imagine a stronger mortification than paying taxes? That feeling that all you worked for is being taken away? Was it really yours to begin with?

Now, you may think as a result of this post that I just love paying taxes, and am very pro-tax. Yikes, no. Who is? And it is of course unendingly frustrating to see those taxes wasted and spent in ways that do not benefit the people who pay them. The people of Jesus’s time probably felt this, too.

But listen to, and follow, Jesus. Be in this world and play by the rules. Accept what it means that all that you have is not yours, the reminder that it can be taken. But that also, through those sacrifices and detachments, God can move you to greater freedom. Hold on lightly. Then hold on tightly to “the things of God,” which are truly eternal, and not temporal like taxes.

This morning's conversation - go to St. Joseph!

This morning I spoke with John Morales on Morning Air about St. Joseph, whose feast day is coming up on March 20 this year. March is the month of St. Joseph, and as he is our most powerful intercessor only after Mary, I say go to St. Joseph! You can hear the conversation here, which starts at minute 9:10. We discussed why St. Joseph is your go-to for work, family, and relationships, why men in particular can pray to him, what St. Joseph’s intercession means to me in my life, and John asked an excellent questions at the end, which is, why is it that St. Joseph is the “terror of demons?” My answer: because of his place in the Holy Family and his protection of Mary and Jesus, his ability to follow the Lord, and to therefore foil the enemy’s plans. St. Joseph, pray for us! And on that note, sign up for Pray More Novenas’s upcoming novena to St. Joseph.

I’ll next be on Morning Air in two weeks, on Tuesday, March 21 at my usual time of 7:10 am eastern. I think I am going to talk about taxes and what it means to render unto Caesar. Oh. boy!

The Pillar writes about L'Arche; March is the month of St. Joseph

Happy March, one and all! Here in the DC, a mild winter and early warm days have begun to bring about the beginning signs of spring. Everywhere, daffodils are exploding in bobbing pops of yellow, some pear and cherry trees are showing their full pink glory, and otherwise the irises and spring flowers are bringing their first green blades up from the ground. March is dedicated to St. Joseph, one of the greatest saints of the Church, as his feast day approaches on March 19. You can bet your buttons I will be doing a novena to him, and in the meantime, entrusting to him my needs around work, housing, and relationships, as he so deftly attends to these. Plus, he is the terror of demons! Go on, St Joseph!

In other news, the best, most impartial form of Catholic journalism out there is happening at The Pillar. I am a monthly subscriber, and you should be, too. I was grateful, and not surprised, that they recently took on the new revelations of Jean Vanier’s abuse in the L’Arche community, which he founded. I was honored to be asked by the excellent Pillar journalist Luke Coppen to share my experience as a member of the DC L’Arche community in light of the recent revelations in a story called “L’Arche after Vanier: ‘We’ve moved on from Jean’.” L’Arche Greater Washington, DC Executive Director Luke Smith also provided thoughtful context on how core family members themselves have, and are, processing the revelations, going back to the initial report in 2020.

It is true that, as I say in the interview, I cried all day. There was a Saturday in particular I remember feeling so utterly betrayed. But, I also mean it when I say - that really has nothing to do with us. Who L’Arche is, is not Jean. Better people than him were able to make something glorious and miraculous out of his strange form of “spirituality.” Everything I have encountered at L’Arche is very real. This news does not change that. And most importantly, it is example 1,000,000,000 of how nothing is ever over with God; He brings good out of bad and it is one of his defining characteristics. Life goes on, thanks be to God. He makes all things new.

Other things on my mind as Lent progresses: why ought we to add something, rather than take away something, during this time? Also, what is the value of going on a retreat, and why should more people take a spiritual retreat? More coming on these fronts for you.

May your Lent continue to be blessed and meaningful.