St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Pembroke Pines shared a reflection on the payment owed to Caesar and to the king. 

“The Lord is king over all the earth, as we sing in today’s Psalm," the reflection stated in the church's Oct. 18 bulletin. "Governments rise and fall by His permission, with no authority but that given from above." 

Scripture tells us that God has called rulers even though they may not know him personally, such as was the case with King Cyrus. He was brought up to help bring the Israelites from exile as well as to help build up the kingdom of Jerusalem. 

“Throughout salvation history, God has used foreign rulers for the sake of His chosen people," the reflection said. "Pharaoh’s heart was hardened to reveal God’s power. Invading armies were used to punish Israel’s sins."

During the Roman occupation while Jesus was on earth, Caesar ruled. 

"Jesus' famous words ..., ‘Repay to Caesar,’ are a pointed reminder of this" the reflection said. "And they call us, too, to keep our allegiances straight. The Lord alone is our king. His kingdom is not of this world, but it begins here in His Church, which tells of His glory among all peoples. Citizens of heaven, we are called to be a light to the world— working in faith, laboring in love and enduring in hope."

We may owe the government a certain amount of allegiance, except when the laws conflict with God’s commandments as taught by the Church. But at the end of the day, what we truly owe to God is our everything. While the coin has the image of Caesar, we have the image of God, and it is our entire lives that we owe to Him. 

Let us remember to pray for our leaders that they will do the will of God.