The Scorecard

Monseigneur Peter's homily made me smile. I knew exactly what he was talking about. It's like a baseball game--you need a scorecard to know the players. I'm talking about Sunday's Gospel, Matt. 22: 15-21.

On one side you have the Pharisees. The leaders of the law. The protectors of religion.
The other side you have the Herodians. They represent the secular. Those that owed the government their livelihood. They support King Herod who support Caesar. Normally, the Pharisees and the Herodians were on opposite sides. But they've joined together to defeat Jesus. A common enemy united them.

Then there's their opponent, Jesus. They throw him a curve ball. They slick it down to slide towards Him, ever so smoothly, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and than you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth...", but it's a trick.

Will Jesus be fooled?

No! Jesus hits the ball out of the park.

"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."