Gospel MT 17:22-27
As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
And they were overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,
“Then the subjects are exempt.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.
Reflection:
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Understandably, Jesus’ followers were “overwhelmed with grief” by his announcement that he would be put to death. But, were they able to hear beyond his initial words that He would be killed? And, could they actually grasp the remainder of what He told them: “and he will be raised on the third day.”
In every situation, we have a choice. Do we focus on the negative or do we focus on the positive?
When we are confronted with actual or potential tragedy, is our first reaction to think, “The sky is falling?”
Or, are we able to reach deep into our well of faith and remind ourselves that even if the very worst happens, God will never abandon us.
As He raised Jesus from death, He will also raise us above the tragedies that befall us and bring us into a new and promising life.
“……the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
One might reasonably think that the Son of God would consider himself exempt from having to pay taxes. However, Jesus tells Peter that he will indeed pay taxes, “…..that we will not offend them.”
For Jesus, it is about setting the right example. He chose to be baptized in the Jordan by John to set an example that leaders are not above obligations that are borne by their subjects. Our Lord also chose to wash the feet of his disciples to show that leadership is about service to others.
“……go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.”
Every society has sayings that are particular to it’s own era.
Jesus is not necessarily telling Peter that he should expect a fish to spew money from its mouth.
Maybe Jesus is using a recognizable saying that Peter would understand. Perhaps he was saying for him to go back to being a fisherman and the sea will provide the means “of paying the tax.”
Just as when one of our children asks for money to go to the movies, we may say, “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” or “God helps those who help themselves.” In other words; “Go start the lawnmower. Your movie money will come from cutting our neighbor’s grass.”
“Love of God is pure when joy and suffering inspire an equal degree of gratitude.” (and hope) Simone Weil