Archbishop Alberto Uy of Cebu urged Catholics to be “honest, responsible, and concerned for the common good,” while remembering that “our money may belong to the government, but our souls belong to God.”
In a homily for Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Archbishop Uy reflected on the Gospel passage in Mark 12:13–17, in which the Pharisees and Herodians attempt to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar.
“The Gospel today begins with a trap,” he said.
The archbishop explained that the question placed Jesus in a difficult position. “If Jesus says yes, some people will accuse Him of siding with the Roman occupiers. If He says no, He can be reported as a rebel.”
Instead of accepting the terms of the debate, Jesus shifted attention to a deeper reality. After asking whose image appeared on a coin, He responded: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
Archbishop Uy said the Lord’s answer was not simply about taxes or political authority.
“At first, this sounds like a lesson about taxes. But Jesus is teaching something much deeper,” he said.
“The coin bears the image of Caesar, so it can be returned to Caesar. But what bears the image of God? You do. I do. Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God.”
He said the Gospel reminds Christians that while governments exercise legitimate authority in civic affairs, human persons ultimately belong to God.
“If the coin belongs to Caesar because it carries Caesar’s image, then we belong to God because we carry God’s image,” he said.
Archbishop Uy said this understanding should shape how believers live their faith in society.
“There is nothing wrong with fulfilling our duties as citizens,” he said. “We should be honest, responsible, and concerned for the common good. But let us never forget that while our money may belong to the government, our souls belong to God.”
The archbishop also cautioned against defining identity through social status, achievement, profession, or nationality.
“Our deepest identity is not our profession, our status, our achievements, or even our nationality,” he said. “Our deepest identity is this: We belong to God.”
He said God seeks more than occasional acts of devotion, calling believers instead to offer their whole lives in response to the God whose image they bear.
“This means that what God wants from us is not merely a few prayers, a few donations, or one hour on Sunday,” Archbishop Uy said. “God wants our hearts. God wants our lives. God wants the person He lovingly created.”
