Love for God and Country

The Economy crash was the topic these days. The driving force of US Economy is the middle class where most people come under. The middle class constantly worry about paying different bills. Taxes of every kind pop up everywhere. Politicians drive the people to get health care insurance, tax for that and tax for this. A frustrated middle class man said, ‘money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately I love money’. We hear the cry of so many people who have lost their jobs, cannot pay their bills, and encounter similar problems related to money: If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.

Today’s gospel talks about two different ways of repaying: repaying Caesar and repaying God. To repay means to pay back or refund; to make return for. This calls for our duties as civilians: repaying our country. This country has given us so much that we call it ‘mother’. Our patriotic spirit is expressed not just placing our Country Flag in some corner or on top our houses, but taking part actively in its advancements; working for peace in our surrounding; and inspiring others with our dreams. Scientific and technological and economic advancements are necessary but our patriotic spirit should bring forth our longing for peace and justice; our longing for a society filled with love and respect for each other.

Our patriotism has its roots in our thirst for God. All those who love their country do not just love the paraphernalia of this country; rather love the people and the land. People are God’s image and likeness. Our love for God compels us to care for our country. Patriotic spirit and religious spirit are so much alike: both have the tendency to repay. We repay the country since our whole personality is shaped by this country. We repay God since our whole being is consecrated by God so that we may have life and life in fullness.

Let us define patriotism. George McGovern explains, “The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plain.” Pablo Castles shares us that “The love of one's country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border?” Kennady told us not to ask what the country has done for us. May be it is good to list out the things that this country has done for us. Patriotism should not limit us to one place, one people; it should prepare us for a broader outreach. That is where Christianity is felt as the bridge between nations and cultures and languages. God is the God of the universe. Even if we fail to understand different lessons of the world, we all understand the lesson of love. God’s love is the lesson that unites us and makes us people of not just one country but people of the universe.

Do I understand and take it to heart the demands of being a patriot? Do I acknowledge that God calls me to a higher level of love and peace and justice? What am I repaying to God what belongs to God?