4 June, 2024 | Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
2 Pt 3:12-15a, 17-18
Gospel Mk 12:13-17
Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent
to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.
They came and said to him,
“Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion.
You do not regard a person’s status
but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?
Should we pay or should we not pay?”
Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them,
“Why are you testing me?
Bring me a denarius to look at.”
They brought one to him and he said to them,
“Whose image and inscription is this?”
They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”
So Jesus said to them,
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”
They were utterly amazed at him.
Reflections:
The Pharisees and the Herodians pointed out that Jesus is a teacher who is true, who does not wavered by other’s misleading opinions, who is not swayed by appearances, who truly teaches the way to God. Yet they test him about the payment of taxes, whether God and taxes go together, whether one must pay taxes at all.
Once again, Jesus demarcates authority – as that which belongs to God and the ones that belong to the management of our civic lives. Using a sample currency, he attests that we must honour God by fulfilling what he expects from us just as we must also honour the government by paying what is expected of us as tax.
They were enlightened and marvelled that he valued both God and humankind and not one or the other.
Activity:
Honour God by responsible completion of your civic duties.
Voice: Sharlene Fernandes
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