IBIGAY MO SA KANYA… Reflection for Oct 16, 2005
"Is it lawful to pay the e-vat or not?" a parishioner once asked me. To say "yes" would make me anti-poor. To say "no" would make me a goverment destabilizer. Same precarious situation our Lord was put into when he was asked whether is it right to pay tax to Caesar (the Roman Emperor). Jesus responded wisely, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s." Jesus is not a politician hence his answer was a disappontment to his enemies. Rather his answer is a reminder for us that God must be obeyed before anybody else. God’s claim is greater than the claim of the state. God must be unrivalled in our minds, hearts and actions. What is due to God? Our worship, our love, our faithfulness in obeying his commandments and consistency in doing his will. Ibinibigay ba natin ito sa Diyos o maramot tayo sa Kanya? Isipin mo na lang ang oras na ibinibigay mo para sa iyong sarili: pamamasyal, pagpapasarap sa sarili, pagpapakasasa sa mga materyal na bagay. Ilang oras ba ang inilalaan mo para sa Diyos?
