Our Duty to God and Country

by Fr. Jess Ty  |  10/18/2026  |  Weekly Reflection

Dear Family of God,

What is our duty to God and to our country?

“Give to Caesar what belong to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” In other words, we give to the Emperor the coin because his image is on it, and we give to God our own selves because we are created in the image of God (Gn. 1:26).

Jesus’ answer acknowledges our obligation as citizens to the state but affirms our larger obligation to God. Both the state and God require certain loyalties from us, but we owe God our very lives. The question Jesus was asked could have been phrased, “Whose side are you on? Israel’s or Rome’s?” Jesus’ answer was “On God’s side!”

There are two levels of authority, God and state. We are citizens of two kingdoms, heaven and earth. Yet we have only one master, God is the highest authority; “He is the Lord, and there is no other.” What is due to God? Our worship, as Psalms proclaims: “It is rights to give him all glory, honor and praise.” Politicians are not gods, we don’t worship them, and they are not our savior, only Jesus is. But, they can be instruments for God’s purpose, just like King Cyrus in our first Reading. God uses him in restoring the Jews to their homeland after a long exile in Babylon.

May Our Lady of Joy help us to serve God first and then be a good citizen for our country.

Yours in Christ through Mary Immaculate.