Jesus draws our attention to two inseparable realities.

What’s new to say that you don’t already know about today’s gospel? What comes to mind for me is the fact that Jesus draws our attention to two inseparable realities. To be a citizen and a disciple of Christ.

The first point is our duty as citizens; is related to our world, and the Creation, as Pope Francis put it in his Encyclical «Laudato Si»: being good stewards of the common home.

Secondly, our duty as Christians to praise and worship God and so imitate Him who created us in his image and likeness. “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” is clearer in my thoughts as I reflect on the two points above.

A Christian is indeed a citizen of a country but is not from the world, he/she is in the world with its rules established to organize us to be able to live together. A good Christian citizen is then one who fights for the spiritual growth of the family and the advancement of his/her community. He/she is the one who witnesses the gospel to his fellow citizens, by his way of living, and participation in the development of his/her country.

Unfortunately, today, this raises many questions. How many Christians or how many of us denigrate and despise their (our) faith, nation, country, and institutions? How many live their lives as if they lived only for themselves and did not have a duty to their community or country?

So, giving the emperor the things that are for the emperor means respecting the rule of law and working together as a human family to build a civilization of justice and peace. Where human dignity and peace prevail. And give to God the things that are God’smeans acknowledging God as King of kings and working together to promote his values and to build His Kingdom of justice, love, and peace which he entrusted us to grow every day among us! and being good custodians of all his creation.

Humanity (say no to wars, visit the sick, feed the hungry, take care of the orphans, do not scandalize the young ones but love and care for them) and

Nature (love and protect the environment) for God created both humanity and the environment in which we live.