Render What? To Who?

Beads of Joy 10-16-11

Render What? To Who?
©2011 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everybody,

That’s a rather interesting and insightful title for today’s reflection. Jesus is very eloquent in His words and how He conveys something to us. I absolutely love this verse in today’s gospel, said by Jesus, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." That deserves an “AMEN” Today’s gospel can be found in Matthew 22:15-21 (Question About Paying Taxes) There are many people in today’s world, who are very attached to the things of this world. That is very sad, they lose sight of our life’s purpose and they completely have no clue about who Jesus is and should be in their own lives. All things in this life are a gift to us, nothing is actually our own, (stay with me for a moment), we come into this life with nothing, only our soul and spirit, and while we are here, we get educated and learn more and more about the things that are around us, and then we further we learn about who God is. During our entire life, we work and earn an income to attain the things we need to live with (food, housing, etc.) after that period of time, God calls us to Himself (we die), upon our exit, there is nothing that can come with us, except that which we came into this life with; our soul and our spirit. Yes, we have our relationships, our experiences, our knowledge, etc., all of that has no material value. Who we are within is who we shall remain to be, but nothing we hold or physically attain can take this journey to the Father with us.

Hopefully the end of that paragraph made some sense. Our life absolutely has more meaning then just the things we have; our life is so much more about who we are and what we believe in. Taking a look at Jesus’ question prior to the verse I shared earlier, Jesus asked, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" That question should be directed to each of in regards to who we are. In other words, “Whose likeness and inscription do we represent?” Ah, see now that makes us think. When we look at ourselves, when God looks at us, when others see us; who is it that they are seeing in our representation? In today’s gospel, Caesar is the government, the world… And that which is of it, shall remain to it. So if we say we are God’s children and that we love Him; whose likeness and inscription should we reflect? God’s of cause.

Everything we possess belongs to God, everything! Living our life for He who has died to save ours, is truly the most blessed way to live. So let us “Render to God, the things that are God’s.” My own suggestion and choice of life is this: Empty your life of everything that keeps your focus away from Jesus; never be so consumed by anything or anyone, that you discard Jesus, or even place Him second. Jesus must be first in all things: Our thinking, our planning, our personal desires, our wants and our needs; there is such an incredible Joy living like this. Empting ourselves of everything that doesn’t have Jesus’ likeness or inscription is a most wonderful way to live this life. To me it’s Jesus 24/7/365.

OCTOBER (The Month of the Holy Rosary)

Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr. SFO

Today we pray the Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation