In today’s Gospel, the evangelist Matthew addresses the issue of paying taxes to the Emperor of Rome. 

The Pharisees and Herodians, seeking to trap Jesus, put a question to him:

«Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar, or not?» (Mt 22:17).

But the Lord replies with that wisdom which comes from on high and is characteristic of him:

«Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s» (Mt 22:21).

In the Franciscan Sources, the ‘Little One of Assisi’ demonstrates throughout his life the wisdom of a poor man.

At the beginning of his conversion, he gave his money to a priest so that the church might be repaired, realising that in this way he would be giving back to God what was His, thereby practising distributive justice.

‘The new knight of Christ approaches the church, and seeing it in such a wretched state, his heart is moved with compassion.

He enters with reverential awe and, encountering a poor priest there, with great faith kisses his consecrated hands, offers him the money he carries with him, and reveals his intentions.

Astounded by this sudden conversion, the priest can scarcely believe what his ears are hearing and refuses to take the money, fearing it is a prank.

Indeed, he had seen him, so to speak, the day before revelling amongst relatives and friends, surpassing everyone in folly.

But Francis insisted and repeatedly implored him to believe his words, and begged him to take him in to serve the Lord alongside him.

And finally, the priest allowed him to stay with him, whilst continuing to refuse the money, for fear of his relatives.

So Francis, a true despiser of wealth, threw it out of a small window, caring no more for it than for dust.

For he longed to possess the wisdom that is better than gold and to obtain the prudence that is more precious than silver’ (FF 335).

After so much debauchery, he wished to give things their proper weight and to give to God what is His and to people what is due to them.

And the sources continue to illustrate the dynamics of his life in truth:

“Francis, supremely in love with God, had a great contempt for all earthly things, but above all he detested money.

He began to despise it in a very special way right from the start of his conversion and urged his followers to flee from it as though it were the devil himself.

He had advised them to treat money in the same way as dung […]” (FF 651).

Just as Jesus takes those present by surprise with his incisive reply, so Francis, following in his footsteps, surprises everyone with a new way of life characterised by truth and justice.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (year A)  (Mt 22:15–21)