"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
It can also be "Give to the state what belongs to the state, and to God what belongs to God," much better, isn't?
We all know that the State and Church in the Philippines are separated institutions. Some statesmen said: "We are concerned with the body, let the Church focus on the soul."
Hmmm... God created Man, body and soul. The Church is the sacrament of God's presence in the world. Therefore, the Church has a great concern with our body and with our soul.
But God is a generous and kind God. He also wants us to serve the State. Saint Paul, in the second reading, gave us a wonderful way to serve God through the State, and serve the State with God as our end: work of faith and labor of love.
Work and Labor are two words that we need to render for the State. Work and Labor help our country in terms of economy. But working with faith and laboring with love serve not only the State in terms of economy but also the Souls.
Saint Josemaria Escriva always remind us that to work with love is a way of praising God and sanctifying others and ourself.
Yes, we need to give what is due to the State - our services, but, at the same time, we must also give what is due to God - our faith and love.
