Which Side Are You On?

Reflection Date: October 18, 2026 | Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21

Children of God:
If you attend the Holy Mass today, you will hear during the first reading the name Cyrus. Hmm, who is Cyrus?

Cyrus was a foreign king who did not belong to God's chosen people but became an instrument of God's plan for their freedom. Cyrus the Great, the Persian ruler, conquered Babylon in 539 BC and allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. 

For decades, the Israelites lived far from Jerusalem, carrying the pain of exile and longing for the day they could worship God again in their own land. 

Through the prophet Isaiah, God called Cyrus his anointed and promised to take him by the hand, even though Cyrus did not know the Lord. 

God empowered him to subdue nations, strip kings of their armor, and open gates that no one could shut. 

These images described God's power working through Cyrus's military victories and political authority to accomplish a purpose greater than his personal ambitions. 

The Lord explained that he acted for the sake of Jacob, his servant, and Israel, his chosen one, even though Cyrus did not know him. God wanted his people to return home, restore their worship, and rediscover their mission after years of suffering and displacement. 

The story reminds us that God can work through people outside our familiar circles, including those who do not share our beliefs or fully understand his plans. 

It also teaches us that political authority, influence, and human achievement can serve a greater purpose when they contribute to the freedom and well-being of others. 

In the gospel story of Matthew, Jesus faced another question about power and responsibility when his opponents asked whether paying taxes to Caesar was lawful. Jesus asked them to show him a coin, identified Caesar's image on it, and answered, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21).

What are our inspirations for today?

First, give society what you owe while giving God the place that belongs to him.

Jesus answered a politically dangerous question with remarkable wisdom. 

His opponents wanted to trap him between the Roman authorities and the Jewish people, who resented their foreign rulers and the taxes they collected. If Jesus rejected the tax, he could be accused of opposing Rome; if he supported it without qualification, he could lose the trust of those who hoped for liberation. 

Jesus pointed to Caesar's image on the coin and reminded his listeners that civic responsibilities mattered, while their responsibility to God reached even deeper into their lives.

We also live with responsibilities that require honesty and accountability. We pay taxes, follow just laws, respect other people's rights, and contribute to the common good. These duties are part of living together as members of society, and our faith should encourage us to fulfill them responsibly. 

At the same time, our conscience reminds us that authority must serve justice, protect human dignity, and respect the rights of every person.

Jesus' answer also challenges us to examine the things we give our time, attention, and energy to. We can spend hours working, earning money, building our reputation, and maintaining our social media presence, yet give little time to prayer, family, or people who need our help. 

Our responsibilities to society and our duties to God need not compete with one another. When we act with integrity, care for others, and stand for what is right, our everyday responsibilities can express the values of our faith.

Give society what you owe while giving God the place that belongs to him.

Second, never let your loyalty to people, money, or power replace your loyalty to God.

The people who questioned Jesus appeared interested in a religious answer, but their intention was to catch him in a mistake. Yes, religion and politics could become tools for manipulation. 

Yet, Jesus refused to be controlled by their trap and directed their attention to a deeper responsibility. 

The coin carried Caesar's image, but every human person carried a dignity that no political ruler or earthly authority could claim as its own.

This message speaks to the choices we make in our relationships, workplaces, communities, and public lives. Sometimes we remain silent when someone is treated unfairly because the person responsible is powerful or influential. 

Sometimes we agree with a dishonest decision because we fear losing our position, our income, or the approval of others. Faith calls us to examine these compromises and to remember that doing what is right matters more than pleasing everyone.

Giving God what belongs to God means offering him our whole selves through the way we live. Our worship, prayers, and religious practices are important, but they must be accompanied by truthfulness, compassion, forgiveness, and respect for human dignity. 

We honor God when we refuse to exploit others, when we use our influence responsibly, and when we choose conscience over personal advantage. 

Our deepest loyalty appears in the decisions we make, especially when doing what is right costs us something.

Never let your loyalty to people, money, or power replace your loyalty to God

As we reflect, we ask ourselves: Do I fulfill my responsibilities to my family, workplace, community, and country with honesty and a genuine concern for the common good? 

When my personal interests conflict with the truth or the dignity of another person, do I choose what is right even when it is difficult? In the way I spend my time, use my resources, and treat other people, do I give God the place that belongs to him?

Children of God:
Faith is reflected in the choices we make every day, especially when we face difficult questions about responsibility, loyalty, and truth. 

God invites us to become responsible citizens who contribute to the common good and compassionate disciples who recognize the dignity of every person. 

We cannot separate our relationship with God from the way we treat the people around us. 

Let us use our influence, resources, and opportunities to promote justice, serve others, and protect what is good. 

May our lives give to society what we owe and give to God the love, trust, and faithfulness that belong to him.