OT XXIX [A] Is 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thes 1:1-5b; Mt 22:15-21.

The common theme of today’s readings is the nature of our obligations to God and to our country. They show us how, with God’s help, we can become ideal citizens of both earth and Heaven.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah presents a startling figure: Cyrus, the pagan emperor of Persia. God addresses him as His “chosen,” literally His “anointed,” His messiah: “It is for the sake of my servant Jacob, of Israel my chosen one, that I have called you by your name, conferring a title though you do not know me.” Cyrus is chosen not because of his faith, not because he worships the God of Israel—in fact, he does not even know Him. He is chosen purely for the sake of God’s people.

Cyrus is an instrument in the divine hand, used for a purpose far greater than his own ambitions. He conquers, opens doors, and restores the exiles, yet he remains largely unaware of the One who grasps his right hand. He may appear to be the most powerful man in the ancient world, but another power far greater than his is guiding history. This teaches us something about being chosen by God: we take no credit for our call. We did not earn it, we are not deserving of it, and we have no achievements to show. Yet God chooses us simply because He is good and because He loves us.

Contrast Cyrus with Caesar in the Gospel. The Pharisees and Herodians approach Jesus with flattery and a trap: “Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in an honest way, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you. Tell us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus is not distracted by their flattery, nor is He naive enough to fall into their snare. He asks for a coin: “Whose head is this? Whose name?” “Caesar’s,” they reply. Then comes His masterful answer: “Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar—and to God what belongs to God.”

His enemies hoped to force Him either into the crime of treason against Rome or into seeming disloyalty to Israel’s faith. But Jesus does more than escape their trap. His words are not simply a political argument for separating Church and State. Rather, He places Caesar’s authority under the authority of God, who is the source of all power. Caesar may have rights over the things that bear his image, but those rights are limited. There is a higher claim, a more fundamental belonging, and even Caesar and every ruler must stand under it.

Here is the irony in these two historical figures. Cyrus is the unwitting instrument who does not know the God who chooses him. Caesar is the pretender who claims what does not ultimately belong to him. One is used by God without knowing Him; the other is reminded that even imperial power is subordinate to God, who alone is Lord.

Now the readings turn toward us. St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: “We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all … because God loves you and that you have been chosen.” We, too, are chosen—not by accident of birth or political fortune, but by the free and loving election of God. The deepest reason for that choosing is written into our very being: we are made in the image and likeness of God, as Genesis teaches.

This is the key to understanding Jesus’ teaching. The coin bears Caesar’s image; therefore it belongs to Caesar. We bear God’s image; therefore we belong to God. Everything we are—our intellect, our freedom, our capacity to love, our very existence—is stamped with the divine likeness. To “give to God what belongs to God” is not merely to offer Him a portion of our time or resources. It is to surrender our whole self: mind, heart, soul, and being.

Being chosen is not a privilege that excuses us from responsibility. It is a vocation that calls us to live differently. The chosen are summoned to lives of gratitude and joy, sustained and expressed through the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. This is what St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians. At baptism, you received the indelible mark of Christ, the One who shows us what God’s image looks like. You are chosen. Live, then, in gratitude. Live in joy. Live by faith, hope, and charity. Give to God what belongs to God, and discover that in doing so you lose nothing; instead, you receive everything.

The words “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” have particular meaning for us in the United States. First, “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s” means more than paying taxes or performing military service. We have a responsibility to take an active role in public life, from town hall to Washington, D.C. A good Catholic cares for his country because he loves God and wants the nation to reflect God’s love in every aspect of national life. By serving the country rightly, as a committed Catholic, one also serves God.

Our election is only a fortnight away. As responsible Catholics and citizens, we need to form our consciences before we vote. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides guidance in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, which helps Catholics learn Catholic social teaching, engage in respectful public dialogue, and make political choices in light of the Gospel. The bishops do not tell Catholics for whom or against whom to vote; rather, they call each person to form a conscience according to God’s truth, study the issues, and pray for discernment.

One danger the bishops name is that many people instinctively identify as Americans, Democrats, or Republicans before they identify as Catholics. When that happens, the Gospel can be overshadowed by partisanship or rigid ideology that demands more loyalty than the Word of God. Naming this honestly is not a condemnation; it is an invitation to let our faith shape our civic identity, rather than allowing politics to reshape our faith. Catholics should be guided more by moral conviction than by attachment to a party or interest group.

From the beginning, Catholics in this country have wrestled with how to live faithfully in a culture that does not always share or support the Gospel. That struggle continues today, especially when many feel politically homeless and unsure where their faith fits within the current landscape. A responsible citizen should learn where each candidate stands and whether that candidate supports Catholic values. Important issues must be considered: protection of unborn life, capital punishment, euthanasia and assisted suicide, poverty, homelessness, access to basic health care, human trafficking, racism, and violence.

Above all these stands the defense of unborn life, because the unborn are the most defenseless among us. The bishops remind us that issues affecting human life and dignity do not all carry the same moral weight, and that opposition to intrinsically evil acts has a special claim on our consciences. At the same time, we may not use one issue to excuse indifference toward other grave threats to human dignity.

Consider how strangely our society can value life. Federal law prohibits carrying out a death sentence on a pregnant woman, and international human-rights law makes the same provision. Even under English common law, a condemned pregnant woman could delay execution until after giving birth. Yet some still call an unborn child merely a “lump of cells.” The law protects the egg of a bald eagle with severe penalties, while a human embryo is often denied the most basic protection. This inconsistency should awaken us. So, form your conscience before you vote in the coming days.

Prayer: Gracious God, guide our hearts and hands as we vote, that our choices may uphold human dignity and advance the common good