Pope Benedict XVI recalls how St Francis of Assisi renounced his inheritance to follow Christ. Before the bishop of Assisi, he relinquished his father’s wealth, choosing to belong entirely to his heavenly Father. Francis discovered that conversion means surrendering whatever prevents God from possessing our hearts.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus declares, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” The coin bears Caesar’s image, but we bear God’s image. Do our lives reflect the One whose image we carry? My brothers and sisters, contemporary culture offers us silent masters. Our phones consume our attention; social media steals our hours; likes, views and public approval become measures of our worth. We scroll endlessly but pray hurriedly. We hear the world’s noise but neglect God’s voice. We are digitally connected yet spiritually disconnected.
On this World Mission Sunday, Christ calls us to repentance. Before carrying His love to others, we must allow Him to reclaim our hearts. What is possessing your heart? What has occupied the space that belongs to God? Is it your phone, ambition, money, resentment or hunger for approval? Let us surrender these false masters, return to prayer, reconcile with those we have wounded, and serve the forgotten. Like St Francis, may we belong entirely to God and become witnesses of His love. Amen.
Fr. Kingsley Nze
Director of Pastoral Affairs
Comments (0)
Security Check
Please complete the captcha to verify you are human.