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Reel Homilies

Give to God What Is God’s

Episode Summary

“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” What does it really mean to give God what belongs to Him?

In this week’s Reel Homilies, Fr. Tim reflects on Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:15–21 and the difference between our responsibilities to the world and our ultimate responsibility to God.

Through a personal reflection on spending, sacrifice, and gratitude, Fr. Tim reminds us that everything we have comes from God and should be used in faithfulness to Him. While we have legitimate obligations to society, our first allegiance belongs to God.

As Catholics, we express this most perfectly in the Mass, where we unite ourselves with Jesus Christ and offer our lives to God the Father through Him.

Editor’s note: In this video, Fr. Tim uses “welcome” to mean a casual, impersonal invitation. He is not saying that people are unwelcome in the Catholic Church. The Church’s invitation is for everyone, and God desires our response.
[00:00:00 –> 00:00:01] All are welcome in the Catholic Church
[00:00:01 –> 00:00:02] and
[00:00:02 –> 00:00:04] Wrong wrong wrong wrong.
[00:00:04 –> 00:00:07] Kind of a heartache. But all are not welcome in the Catholic Church.
[00:00:08 –> 00:00:10] All are invited.
[00:00:10 –> 00:00:12] If someone was to invite you to a party and they were like, yeah,
[00:00:13 –> 00:00:14] you’re totally welcome to come.
[00:00:14 –> 00:00:15] that’s very, very different
[00:00:15 –> 00:00:17] than saying, hey,
[00:00:17 –> 00:00:18] You’re invited. I want you there.
[00:00:18 –> 00:00:19] if you’re invited,
[00:00:19 –> 00:00:21] it’s notice that you’re not there
[00:00:21 –> 00:00:23] and it’s notice that you’re there
[00:00:23 –> 00:00:25] In the gospel, this is what it’s all about.
[00:00:25 –> 00:00:27] God is a good father.
[00:00:27 –> 00:00:30] who wants us at the wedding feast.
[00:00:30 –> 00:00:31] He’s not like, yeah, you’re welcome
[00:00:31 –> 00:00:32] to come to heaven.
[00:00:32 –> 00:00:34] If you don’t come to heaven,
[00:00:34 –> 00:00:35] Whatever.
[00:00:35 –> 00:00:39] God is a good father who is invited you there, who wants you there?
[00:00:39 –> 00:00:40] If you’re in heaven,
[00:00:40 –> 00:00:42] it is absolutely noticed.
[00:00:42 –> 00:00:43] If you’re not in heaven,
[00:00:44 –> 00:00:46] it’s absolutely noticed that you’re not there.
[00:00:46 –> 00:00:49] So yeah, in the Catholic Church, you’re not really welcome.
[00:00:49 –> 00:00:52] You’re absolutely 100% invited.
[00:00:52 –> 00:00:54] This is Spirit Juice. Peace.

Check out the video on YouTube

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Key Takeaways

  • Everything comes from God. Our lives, resources, and blessings are gifts we’re called to use faithfully and gratefully.

  • Giving reveals our priorities. Examining how we spend our money can help us recognize what we value most.

  • Our first allegiance belongs to God. We have legitimate responsibilities to civil authorities, but those obligations never override our duty to God.

  • God calls us to offer our whole lives. Giving back to God means offering more than our possessions. It means offering our time, talents, choices, and daily sacrifices.

  • The Mass unites our offering with Christ’s sacrifice. Through participation in the Eucharist, we join our lives and sacrifices to Jesus’ perfect offering to the Father.

What This Means for Prayer and Daily Life

How often do we stop to consider what we’re giving back to God?

When Jesus tells us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God, He challenges us to recognize where our ultimate loyalty lies.

Fr. Tim invites us to examine how we use the gifts we’ve received, including our money, time, talents, and attention. Are we using them in ways that reflect our love for God?

This week, consider making a small sacrifice. Give up an unnecessary purchase, spend more time in prayer, or practice generosity toward someone in need. These simple acts can help us grow in gratitude and place God at the center of our lives.

Most importantly, bring those sacrifices to Mass. The Eucharist is first and foremost Christ’s sacrifice, and through our participation, we unite our daily offerings with the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

In Him and through Him, we offer ourselves to God the Father.

FAQ Section: Welcome, Invited and the Wedding Feast

In Matthew 22:15–21, Jesus responds to an attempt to trap Him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. His answer teaches that Christians have legitimate responsibilities to civil authorities, but their ultimate allegiance belongs to God. Earthly authority has limits, and no civil obligation can override our duty to God.

 

Catholics are called to offer their whole lives to God. Because everything we have is received from Him, we should use our time, talents, possessions, and resources in faithfulness to His will. Giving back to God is not simply about money. It is about living with gratitude, generosity, and love.

 

The Mass makes present the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offers Himself to the Father. Through our participation in the Eucharist, we unite our prayers, sacrifices, and lives with Christ’s perfect offering. Our self-offering draws its meaning and value from His sacrifice.

 

Sacrifice and fasting help Catholics grow in self-discipline, gratitude, and freedom from excessive attachment to material things. Even small sacrifices, such as avoiding unnecessary spending, can become opportunities to practice generosity and draw closer to God when offered with love.

 

Catholics can live out this Gospel by fulfilling their legitimate responsibilities to society while keeping God at the center of their decisions. This includes acting with integrity, using resources wisely, making time for prayer, serving others, and participating in the Mass, where our daily offerings are united with Christ’s sacrifice.

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