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.

In the Gospel, when trap-setters ask whether to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus famously replies, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar—and to God what belongs to God.” While worldly rulers hold limited authority over civic affairs, ultimate allegiance belongs to God.

Writing to the Thessalonians St. Paul reminds us that we are chosen by God because we are made in His image. Just as the coin bears Caesar’s image, we bear God’s image—meaning we owe Him not just a portion of our lives, but our entire selves.

This is the key to understanding Jesus’ teaching. The coin bears Caesar’s image; since it belongs to Caesar. We bear God’s image, since 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. That’s why Jesus told us to love the Lord with all our heart, with our mind, with all your soul and all your strength.

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. A QR code link to the USCCB website is provided at the back of the church, if you are interested in learning more about responsible citizenship.

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.

Top of this list 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 these days some people call an unborn child merely a “lump of cells.” The law protects the egg of a bald eagle with severe penalties, $100,000.00 fine, 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.

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