Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, October 18, 2026

“Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.”

In this week’s Gospel, the Pharisees and Herodians, who typically do not agree on anything and who don’t like each other very much, have chosen to work together against Jesus, who they see as their common enemy.  They are hoping to trap Jesus into running afoul of either the Romans or the Jews by asking him a question about paying taxes.

It is a familiar story. They ask Jesus if it is appropriate to pay taxes to Caesar.  He asks them whose image is on the coin used to pay the taxes.  They reply, “Caesar’s,” to which He famously responds, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”  By answering in this manner, Jesus avoids the trap and makes it clear that it is indeed possible to be law abiding citizens while also being followers of the one, true God.

Before the Pharisees and Herodians set the trap, they actually say something that is both brilliant and instructional for all of us.  Of course, they were totally disingenuous in complimenting Jesus as they did, but their words ring true today.  They state that Jesus teaches “the way of God truthfully” and that He “does not care about anyone’s opinion,” and He is “not swayed by appearances.”  How beautifully does that capture the approach that Jesus takes with all whom He encounters and how perfectly does it express the way that all of us should be.  

Just as these religious leaders recognize that Jesus rises above the petty squabbles of each day, we must place our commitment to our faith above our daily earthly concerns.  We must always strive to find the Truth and we must teach that Truth even when (perhaps, especially when) it is not well received by others or not particularly convenient.  We must not allow anyone’s opinion to cause us to change our understanding of, or our commitment to, the Truth. We are called to be lights of Truth to the world.  Finally, because we recognize God’s Truth as the Truth of the eternal kingdom, we must be so focused on God’s Truth that we are not swayed by earthly appearances.

Fr. Mike