In today’s Sunday Mass Gospel reading from Matthew (Mt 22:15-21), is offers us important guidance. When confronted with the question if one should pay taxes, He responds with an important insight. He says, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar’s, but give to God what belongs to God”. So, for us, what does belong to God? For a mystic, all is God’s so all belongs to God. What about the state? How should we respond? Jesus instructs to give the state what belongs to it. LIfe is filled with obligations. Keeping our obligations and responsibilities in the right proportion is how we must live. Giving to God what is God’s – our very being – will certainly be life-giving. Jesus wisely guides us to do so!