Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 413
Lectionary: 413
Moses said to the
people:
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you
but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly,
to love and serve the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul,
to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD
which I enjoin on you today for your own good?
Think! The heavens, even the highest heavens,
belong to the LORD, your God,
as well as the earth and everything on it.
Yet in his love for your fathers the LORD was so attached to them
as to choose you, their descendants,
in preference to all other peoples, as indeed he has now done.
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked.
For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods,
the LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,
who has no favorites, accepts no bribes;
who executes justice for the orphan and the widow,
and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him.
So you too must befriend the alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
The LORD, your God, shall you fear, and him shall you serve;
hold fast to him and swear by his name.
He is your glory, he, your God,
who has done for you those great and terrible things
which your own eyes have seen.
Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy strong,
and now the LORD, your God,
has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky.”
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you
but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly,
to love and serve the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul,
to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD
which I enjoin on you today for your own good?
Think! The heavens, even the highest heavens,
belong to the LORD, your God,
as well as the earth and everything on it.
Yet in his love for your fathers the LORD was so attached to them
as to choose you, their descendants,
in preference to all other peoples, as indeed he has now done.
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked.
For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods,
the LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,
who has no favorites, accepts no bribes;
who executes justice for the orphan and the widow,
and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him.
So you too must befriend the alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
The LORD, your God, shall you fear, and him shall you serve;
hold fast to him and swear by his name.
He is your glory, he, your God,
who has done for you those great and terrible things
which your own eyes have seen.
Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy strong,
and now the LORD, your God,
has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
GospelMT 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.”
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.”
Meditation: "Not to give offense"
Who likes to pay taxes, especially when you
think they might be unreasonable or unjust? Jesus and his disciples were
confronted by tax collectors on the issue of tax evasion. When questioned about
paying the temple tax, Jesus replied to his disciples: We must pay so as not to
cause bad example. In fact, we must go beyond our duty in order that we may
show others what they ought to do. The scriptural expression to give no offense
doesn't refer to insult or annoyance; rather it means to put no stumbling block
in the way of another that would cause them to trip or fall. Jesus would not
allow himself anything which might possibly be a bad example to someone else.
Do you evade unpleasant responsibilities or obligations?
On three
different occasions the Gospels record that Jesus predicted he would endure
great suffering through betrayal, rejection, and the punishment of a cruel
death. The Jews resorted to stoning and the Romans to crucifixion – the most
painful and humiliating death they could devise for criminals they wanted to
eliminate. No wonder the apostles were greatly distressed at such a prediction!
If Jesus their Master were put to death, then they would likely receive the
same treatment by their enemies. Jesus called himself the "Son of
Man" because this was a Jewish title for the Messiah which the prophet
Daniel wrote about (Daniel 7:13-14). Why must the Messiah be rejected and
killed? Did not God promise that his Anointed One would deliver his people from
their oppression and establish a kingdom of peace and justice? The prophet
Isaiah had foretold that it was God's will that the "Suffering
Servant" make atonement for sins through his suffering and death. Jesus
paid the price for our redemption with his blood. Slavery to sin is to want the
wrong things and to be in bondage to destructive desires. The ransom Jesus paid
sets us free from the worst tyranny possible – the tyranny of sin and the fear
of death. Jesus' victory did not end with death but triumphed over the tomb.
Jesus defeated the powers of death through his resurrection. Do you want the
greatest freedom possible, the freedom to live as God truly meant us to live as
his sons and daughters?
"Lord
Jesus, your death brought life and freedom. May I always walk in that freedom
and be guided by your love and truth that I may be generous towards all and
give each their due."
 Death and Taxes |
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Monday of the
Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
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Matthew 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, "Doesn´t 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."
Introductory Prayer: Lord God, I believe in your presence here with me as I begin
this moment of prayer. I hope in you. I know that you will always take care
of me. I want this time with you to be a sign of my love for you. I seek only
to please you, without desiring any spiritual consolation for myself.
Petition: Lord, help me to acknowledge your greatness with my words and
actions.
1. No Tax Loopholes, Not Even for
Jesus: Jesus draws from
Peter the admission that collectors of the Temple Tax did not consider him
the Son of God, and that they did not consider the Temple the house of his
Father. They therefore thought he was subject to the tax. In effect, by
obliging him to pay the tax they implied that they considered him a subject
or a foreigner. Joined with Jesus’ prediction of his Passion, the scene
harkens back to the line from the opening of John’s Gospel, “He was in the
world and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him” (John
1:10-11). How this must have broken the heart of Christ to find himself
unwelcome among those he came to save. And how often we leave Christ alone in
our churches and chapels, with no one to visit him or acknowledge his
presence there.
2. A Place Where Christ Is Welcome: What does it mean for us to welcome Christ
into our life? It must be more than a warm emotion. Rather it must be opening
ourselves to the presence of him who comes to make his home among us and
share our lives. We have a God who is so close to us and wants a relationship
with us. He wants our time and our attention. Welcoming Christ into our life
means recognizing him not as a foreigner who comes from afar to impose
himself, but as our personal Lord -- as our master, and our savior. It is his
will that must rule in our life and direct our behavior. We must acknowledge
that only he has the word of life and we must turn our lives to him in loving
obedience. The fruit of this will be interior peace and profound joy.
3. A Society Without Christ Is Empty and
Confused: Today we see how
frequently Christ is refused entry into the world, and how frequently he is
marginalized by so many of those who have great influence in society and in
our culture. He is deliberately excluded from the world of politics, from the
world of science, the arts, of business, law, and medicine. Often he is
treated in the media only when it chooses to ridicule him. As followers of
Christ, we must bring him and his word of life back into every sphere of
human activity, for a world without Christ is a world that knows neither its
origin nor its destiny and will turn against man himself.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, give me courage to make your presence
felt in the world around me. Let me not be afraid to show that my faith in
you is the center of my life and gives meaning to all I do. Let me give
witness of the joy I experience in living by your law in my life.
Resolution: I will find time to spend with Christ in the
Blessed Sacrament today or find a way to give witness to Christ in the midst
of my daily occupations, manifesting my faith publicly.
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MONDAY, AUGUST 12
MATTHEW 17:22-27
MATTHEW 17:22-27
(Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Psalm 147)
KEY VERSE: "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men" (v 22).
READING: Following Jesus' glorious manifestation on the Mountain of the Transfiguration,he and his disciples arrived in Capernaum where they met with opposition. The tax collectors came to Peter and asked him why Jesus had not paid the annual tax for the upkeep of the temple (Ex 30:11-16). Jesus used this incident as an analogy of the spiritual realm. If the kings of the earth demanded tolls from foreigners, then the "sons" of the kingdom should be exempt. They were not bound by laws imposed on those who were not subjects of the kingdom. Yet to avoid scandal, Jesus told Peter that he would find a coin worth twice the tax in the mouth of the first fish he caught. (The Musht fish is popularly known as "St. Peter's fish." The parent fish keeps the eggs of their young in their mouths until they are hatched. Then it takes in pebbles and possibly a coin to prevent their offspring from entering the mouth again. This may have happened when Peter found a coin in the fish's mouth to pay the tax.) A fish is the oldest Christian symbol. The Greek word for fish, Ichthus, is used as an acrostic for the words that translate �Jesus Christ Son of God Savior� [Iesous (Jesus) Christos (Christ) Theou (God) Uiou (Son) Soter (Savior)].
REFLECTING: Do I protest when tax dollars are used for things that conflict with our Christian values?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, thank you for making us sons and daughters of your kingdom.
Optional Memorial
of Jane Frances de Chantal, religious
Jane Frances de Chantal was the widow of the Baron of Chantal and she was left with four children. She was also very much loved by the poor. While visiting at Dijon, 1604, she heard St. Francis de Sales preach. A correspondence between them began, and he became her spiritual director. Having provided for the welfare of her children, she went to Annecy with her two daughters and the inhabitants of Monthelon wept at her departure. In 1610 she founded the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady for widows and laywomen who did not wish the full life of the orders. She spent the rest of her life in the cloister, but supervised the growth of the order. Eighty-six houses were established before her death. Her literary works comprise letters and instructions on the religious life. Visitations nuns today live a contemplative life, work for widows, women with poor health, and sometimes run schools. Canonized in 1767, her body lies in the basilica near Annecy, France.
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem
‘So as not to offend these people, give it to them for me and for
you.’Some battles are not worth fighting. Some brick walls should stay where they are. With finite time and energy, it can be important to focus on what can be changed. Jesus could have made an issue of the payment of the tax. In choosing not to, he taught the disciples a lesson in priorities. It was an inconvenience and probably an injustice: a tax imposed on an occupied country by the invaders. But Jesus’ mission and message was far more important.
Grass-roots change organisations do work. After the death of her son, a woman began a campaign to have the names of fallen Australian peacekeepers recorded on the Honour Roll at the War Memorial in Canberra. This was successful when 41,000 other people signed the petition. Jesus, help me choose my battles wisely.
August 29
St. Louis of Toulouse
(1274-1297)
St. Louis of Toulouse
(1274-1297)
When he died at the age of 23, Louis was already a Franciscan, a
bishop and a saint!
Louis’s
parents were Charles II of Naples and Sicily and Mary, daughter of the King of
Hungary. Louis was related to St. Louis IX on his father’s side and to
Elizabeth of Hungary on his mother’s side.
Louis
showed early signs of attachment to prayer and to the corporal works of mercy.
As a child he used to take food from the castle to feed the poor. When he was
14, Louis and two of his brothers were taken as hostages to the king of
Aragon’s court as part of a political deal involving Louis’s father. At the
court Louis was tutored by Franciscan friars under whom he made great progress
both in his studies and in the spiritual life. Like St. Francis he developed a
special love for those afflicted with leprosy.
While he
was still a hostage, Louis decided to renounce his royal title and become a
priest. When he was 20, he was allowed to leave the king of Aragon’s court. He
renounced his title in favor of his brother Robert and was ordained the next
year. Very shortly after, he was appointed bishop of Toulouse, but the pope
agreed to Louis’s request to become a Franciscan first.
The
Franciscan spirit pervaded Louis. "Jesus Christ is all my riches; he alone
is sufficient for me," Louis kept repeating. Even as a bishop he wore the
Franciscan habit and sometimes begged. He assigned a friar to offer him
correction — in public if necessary — and the friar did his job.
Louis’s
service to the Diocese of Toulouse was richly blessed. In no time he was
considered a saint. Louis set aside 75 percent of his income as bishop to feed
the poor and maintain churches. Each day he fed 25 poor people at his table.
Louis was
canonized in 1317 by Pope John XXII, one of his former teachers.
Comment:
When Cardinal Hugolino, the future Pope Gregory IX, suggested to Francis that some of the friars would make fine bishops, Francis protested that they might lose some of their humility and simplicity if appointed to those positions. Those two virtues are needed everywhere in the Church, and Louis shows us how they can be lived out by bishops.
When Cardinal Hugolino, the future Pope Gregory IX, suggested to Francis that some of the friars would make fine bishops, Francis protested that they might lose some of their humility and simplicity if appointed to those positions. Those two virtues are needed everywhere in the Church, and Louis shows us how they can be lived out by bishops.
Quote:
"All the faithful were edified by the fervor of his devout celebration of Mass, the efficacy of his deep humility, his tender compassion, his upright life, the harmonious congruity in all his actions, words and bearing. Who without wonderment could look upon a most charming young man, the son of so mighty a king, outstanding for his generosity, raised to such dignity, renowned for his influence, preeminent for humility, living a life of such mortification, endowed with such wisdom, clothed in so poor a habit yet renowned for the charm of his discourse and a shining example of upright life?" (contemporary biography).
"All the faithful were edified by the fervor of his devout celebration of Mass, the efficacy of his deep humility, his tender compassion, his upright life, the harmonious congruity in all his actions, words and bearing. Who without wonderment could look upon a most charming young man, the son of so mighty a king, outstanding for his generosity, raised to such dignity, renowned for his influence, preeminent for humility, living a life of such mortification, endowed with such wisdom, clothed in so poor a habit yet renowned for the charm of his discourse and a shining example of upright life?" (contemporary biography).
LECTIO: MATTHEW
17,22-27
Lectio:
Monday, August 12, 2013
1) Opening prayer
Almighty and ever-living God,
your Spirit made us your children,
confident to call you Father.
Increase your Spirit within us
and bring us to our promised inheritance.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
your Spirit made us your children,
confident to call you Father.
Increase your Spirit within us
and bring us to our promised inheritance.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 17,22-27
When they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, 'The Son
of man is going to be delivered into the power of men; they will put him to
death, and on the third day he will be raised up again.' And a great sadness
came over them.
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, 'Does your master not pay the half-shekel?' 'Yes,' he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, 'Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do earthly kings take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?' And when he replied, 'From foreigners,' Jesus said, 'Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so that we shall not be the downfall of others, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself.'
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, 'Does your master not pay the half-shekel?' 'Yes,' he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, 'Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do earthly kings take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?' And when he replied, 'From foreigners,' Jesus said, 'Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so that we shall not be the downfall of others, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself.'
3) Reflection
• The five verses of today’s Gospel speak about two very
different themes between them. (a) The second announcement of the passion,
death and resurrection of Jesus (Mt 17, 22-23); (b) they inform on the
conversation of Jesus with Peter about paying the taxes and the dues to the
temple (Mt 17, 24-27).
• Matthew 17, 22-23: The announcement of the death and resurrection of Jesus.The first announcement (Mt 16, 21) had produced a strong reaction on Peter who did not want to know anything about suffering nor the cross. Jesus had answered just as strongly: “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mt 16, 23). Here, in the second announcement, the reaction of the disciples is less strong, less aggressive. The announcement produces sadness. It seems that now they begin to understand that the cross forms part of the journey. The proximity of the death and the suffering weigh heavily on them, giving rise to a great discouragement. Even if Jesus tries to help them, the resistance of centuries against the idea of a crucified Messiah, was much greater.
• Matthew 17 24-25a: The question which the tax collectors ask Peter concerning the taxes. When they reached Capernaum, the tax collector of the taxes of the Temple asks Peter: “Does your Master not pay the half-shekel for the Temple?” Peter answered: “Yes”. From the time of Nehemias (V Century BC), the Jews who had returned from the exile of Babylonia, committed themselves solemnly in the Assembly to pay the diverse taxes and dues in order to allow the Temple to continue to function and to take care of the maintenance both of the priestly service and of the building of the Temple. (Ne 10, 33-40). From what we can see from Peter’s response, Jesus paid the taxes like any other Jew.
• Matthew 17, 25b-26: The question of Jesus to Peter concerning the taxes. The conversation between Jesus and Peter is very strange. When they reach home, Jesus asked: “ Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do earthly kings take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?” Peter responds: “From foreigners”. And Jesus says: “Therefore, the sons are exempt!” Probably, here we can see a discussion between the Christian Jews before the destruction of the Temple, in the year 70. They asked themselves if they had to continue or not to pay the taxes of the Temple, as they did before. By Jesus’ response they discover that they are not obliged to pay this tax: “The sons are exempt!” The sons are the Christians, but even if they are not obliged to pay, the recommendation of Jesus is to pay in order not to cause scandal.
• Matthew 17, 27: The conclusion of the conversation on the paying of the tax.The solution which Jesus gives to this situation is even stranger. He tells Peter:“However, so that we shall not be the downfall of others, go to the lake and cast a hook: take the first fish that rises, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself.” This was a strange miracle, strange like that of the 2000 pigs which threw themselves into the sea (Mk 5, 13). Which ever is the interpretation of this miraculous fact, this way of resolving the problem suggests that it is a question that is not too important for Jesus.
• Matthew 17, 22-23: The announcement of the death and resurrection of Jesus.The first announcement (Mt 16, 21) had produced a strong reaction on Peter who did not want to know anything about suffering nor the cross. Jesus had answered just as strongly: “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mt 16, 23). Here, in the second announcement, the reaction of the disciples is less strong, less aggressive. The announcement produces sadness. It seems that now they begin to understand that the cross forms part of the journey. The proximity of the death and the suffering weigh heavily on them, giving rise to a great discouragement. Even if Jesus tries to help them, the resistance of centuries against the idea of a crucified Messiah, was much greater.
• Matthew 17 24-25a: The question which the tax collectors ask Peter concerning the taxes. When they reached Capernaum, the tax collector of the taxes of the Temple asks Peter: “Does your Master not pay the half-shekel for the Temple?” Peter answered: “Yes”. From the time of Nehemias (V Century BC), the Jews who had returned from the exile of Babylonia, committed themselves solemnly in the Assembly to pay the diverse taxes and dues in order to allow the Temple to continue to function and to take care of the maintenance both of the priestly service and of the building of the Temple. (Ne 10, 33-40). From what we can see from Peter’s response, Jesus paid the taxes like any other Jew.
• Matthew 17, 25b-26: The question of Jesus to Peter concerning the taxes. The conversation between Jesus and Peter is very strange. When they reach home, Jesus asked: “ Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do earthly kings take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?” Peter responds: “From foreigners”. And Jesus says: “Therefore, the sons are exempt!” Probably, here we can see a discussion between the Christian Jews before the destruction of the Temple, in the year 70. They asked themselves if they had to continue or not to pay the taxes of the Temple, as they did before. By Jesus’ response they discover that they are not obliged to pay this tax: “The sons are exempt!” The sons are the Christians, but even if they are not obliged to pay, the recommendation of Jesus is to pay in order not to cause scandal.
• Matthew 17, 27: The conclusion of the conversation on the paying of the tax.The solution which Jesus gives to this situation is even stranger. He tells Peter:“However, so that we shall not be the downfall of others, go to the lake and cast a hook: take the first fish that rises, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself.” This was a strange miracle, strange like that of the 2000 pigs which threw themselves into the sea (Mk 5, 13). Which ever is the interpretation of this miraculous fact, this way of resolving the problem suggests that it is a question that is not too important for Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• The suffering of the Cross discourages and saddens the
disciples. Has this already happened in your life?
• How do you interpret the episode of the coin found in the mouth of the fish?
• How do you interpret the episode of the coin found in the mouth of the fish?
5) Concluding Prayer
Praise Yahweh from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host! (Ps 148,1-2)
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host! (Ps 148,1-2)
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