Belonging to God

Yesterday officially begins the Ordinary time but since it was the feast of Mary, mother of the Church, the color was White. Today, we marvel at the color Green for it is the color of ordinariness, the color of growth, the color of creation, the color of vitality and abundance. This is because in the ordinary time, we shall be nourished with the teachings of Jesus about the Kingdom, about relationships, about values, about the parables and healing, and today he teaches us about belonging to God and living for God. Ang maging para sa Diyos at mamuhay sa Diyos.

In our Gospel, it is important for us to understand that the Pharisees and the Herodians are lobbying ways and means on how to lead Jesus to seditious speech just so they could put him on trial and had him killed. This time they used the state affairs to trap him; with the census tax to paid to Caesar.

As always, Jesus spoke eloquently away from the trap these people had set by going into the most fundamental aspect of governance and taxation, of leadership and social welfare; and that is everything belongs to God and we are just stewards of the power to lead. And if our stewardship of power is in consonance with the purposes of God, according to mind of God, or according to census fidelium, this power is not about domination or enslavement but empowerment and service

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Kaya nating baguhin ang mundo hindi sa dahas or sa pagiging dictador, kundi sa pagpapahalaga ng karapatang pan-tao, pagpapayabong ng kakayanang pan-tao, at pagpapayaman sa lahat lalong-lalo na sa mga mahihinang kasapi ng lipunan. Kung may Hindi makasunod, akayin. Kung may hindi marunong, turuan. Kung may nagkamali, ituwid at ibalik sa lipunan.

This is the very spirit of inter-generational justice. -everything belongs to God, and everyone is a steward to God’s purposes. Lahat tayo ay katiwala sa kalooban ng Diyos.

Kung kalooban ng Diyos na pakainin ang mga nagugutum, kung kalooban ng Diyos na patuloyin ang mga walang matutuloyan, kung kalooban ng Diyos na bigyang pansin at pagkakataong lumago ang mga maralita sa lipunan, tayong lahat ay katiwala at kasangkapan ng kabutihan ng Diyos para sa iba.

If the fundamental value of justice is the admission that everything belongs to God, then this justice must flow from ourselves towards one another, to the least, and to the planet. You, me, the least of our brethren and the ecology belong to God without a doubt, and whatever belongs to God belongs to Goodness and beauty.

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First Reading | 2 Peter 3:12-15A, 17-18

12 Beloved: Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire.

13 But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.

15A And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.

17 Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.

18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalms 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 AND 16

R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

2 Before the mountains were begotten and the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

10 Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong, And most of them are fruitless toil, for they pass quickly and we drift away.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 16 Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Gospel | Mark 12:13-17

13 Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.

14 They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?”

15 Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.”

16 They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”

17 So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.