Jesus, in response to the question of the Pharisees and Herodians, natural enemies who have united against him, asks them to see the coin for taxation and replies: "Whose head is this, and whose title?" (Mt 22: 20) He knows, as do his opponents, that the Roman emperors thought of themselves as divine. Furthermore, the conversation takes place in the Temple which is God's resting place on earth. His interrogators are forced to reply: "The emperor's" (Mt 22: 21) In doing so they break the first Commandment: "... you shall have no other gods before me" (Ex 20: 1) and the second: "You shall not make for yourself an idol..." (Ex 20: 2). Jesus acknowledges the emperor to own that which bears his image, money. The rest: "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers" (Ps 24: 1-2), especially human beings: "So God created humankind in his image..." (Gen 1: 27) belongs to God. How do I respond to human authority? Just because something is legal it does not mean it is moral, especially when it comes to issues like abortion and euthanasia: "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense for what is done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor 5: 10)
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