Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
Lectionary: 413
Lectionary: 413
On the fifth day of
the fourth month of the fifth year,
that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile,
The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel,
the son of Buzi,
in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.—
There the hand of the LORD came upon me.
As I looked, a stormwind came from the North,
a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,
from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)
something gleamed like electrum.
Within it were figures resembling four living creatures
that looked like this: their form was human.
Then I heard the sound of their wings,
like the roaring of mighty waters,
like the voice of the Almighty.
When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.
And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Above the firmament over their heads
something like a throne could be seen,
looking like sapphire.
Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;
downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;
he was surrounded with splendor.
Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day
was the splendor that surrounded him.
Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile,
The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel,
the son of Buzi,
in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.—
There the hand of the LORD came upon me.
As I looked, a stormwind came from the North,
a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,
from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)
something gleamed like electrum.
Within it were figures resembling four living creatures
that looked like this: their form was human.
Then I heard the sound of their wings,
like the roaring of mighty waters,
like the voice of the Almighty.
When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.
And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Above the firmament over their heads
something like a throne could be seen,
looking like sapphire.
Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;
downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;
he was surrounded with splendor.
Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day
was the splendor that surrounded him.
Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm PS 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys,
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And he has lifted up the horn of his people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys,
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And he has lifted up the horn of his people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.”
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?
Jesus predicts his
death and triumph over the grave
On three different occasions in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus predicted he would endure great suffering through betrayal, rejection, and the punishment of a cruel death (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, and 20:17-19). The Jews resorted to stoning for very serious offenses 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 explained in his vision of the One whom God would send to establish his everlasting kingdom of power and righteousness over the earth (Daniel 7:13-14).
On three different occasions in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus predicted he would endure great suffering through betrayal, rejection, and the punishment of a cruel death (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, and 20:17-19). The Jews resorted to stoning for very serious offenses 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 explained in his vision of the One whom God would send to establish his everlasting kingdom of power and righteousness over the earth (Daniel 7:13-14).
The Suffering
Servant and Lamb of God
Why must the Messiah be rejected and killed? Did not God promise that his Anointed One (Messiah in Hebrew) 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 (Isaiah 53). John the Baptist described Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1: 29, Isaiah 53:6-7). When Jesus willing offered up his life for us on the cross he paid the price for our redemption with his blood.
Why must the Messiah be rejected and killed? Did not God promise that his Anointed One (Messiah in Hebrew) 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 (Isaiah 53). John the Baptist described Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1: 29, Isaiah 53:6-7). When Jesus willing offered up his life for us on the cross he paid the price for our redemption with his blood.
Jesus offers
freedom and victory over sin and death
Jesus came to rescue us from sin and its destructive forces and to restore us to fulness of life with our heavenly Father. Sin not only separates us from God - it leads us down the path to corruption and unending death. Slavery to sin is to want the wrong things and to be in bondage to hurtful desires and addictions. The ransom Jesus paid sets us free from the worst tyranny possible - the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death. Jesus' victory did not end with his sacrificial death on the cross - he triumphed over the grave when he rose again on the third day. Jesus defeated the powers of death and Satan through his cross and resurrection. The Lord Jesus offers us true freedom and peace which no one can take from us. Do you want the greatest freedom possible, the freedom to live as God truly meant us to live as his sons and daughters?
Jesus came to rescue us from sin and its destructive forces and to restore us to fulness of life with our heavenly Father. Sin not only separates us from God - it leads us down the path to corruption and unending death. Slavery to sin is to want the wrong things and to be in bondage to hurtful desires and addictions. The ransom Jesus paid sets us free from the worst tyranny possible - the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death. Jesus' victory did not end with his sacrificial death on the cross - he triumphed over the grave when he rose again on the third day. Jesus defeated the powers of death and Satan through his cross and resurrection. The Lord Jesus offers us true freedom and peace which no one can take from us. 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 true life and freedom. May I always walk in the freedom and
power of your love and truth and reject whatever is contrary to your will for
my life."
 Death and Taxes |
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August 11, 2014.
Memorial of Saint Clare, virgin
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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 11. MATTHEW 17:22-27
(Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28; Psalm 148)
(Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28; Psalm 148)
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, popularly known as "St. Peter's 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.
Memorial of Clare, virgin
Clare was the eldest daughter of Favorino Scifi, a wealthy member of an ancient Roman family, who owned a large palace in Assisi and a castle on the slope of Mount Subasio. From her earliest years Clare was devoted to prayer and to practices of mortification, and as she passed into girlhood her yearning for a more spiritual life increased. She was eighteen years of age when St. Francis came to preach in the church of San Giorgio at Assisi. Francis kindled a flame in the heart of Clare, and she begged him to help her live "after the manner of the holy Gospel". By St. Francis's advice, Clare secretly left her father's house, and, accompanied by her aunt Bianca and another companion, proceeded to the chapel of the Porziuncula, where Francis and his disciples met her with lights in their hands. Clare then laid aside her rich dress, and Francis cut off her hair and clothed her in a rough tunic and a thick veil, and in this way she vowed herself to the service of Jesus Christ. Eventually, Clare founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) at San Damiano, and led it for 40 years. Clare's mother and sisters later joined the order, and today there are thousands of members living lives of prayer in silence.
Lord, show us your mercy and love,
and grant us your salvation
When evening came, he was there alone.After a hard day’s labour, Jesus needs time to rest and pray. We too could use this same inspiration after a hard day’s work, a difficult time, a challenging situation or a time of struggle or indecision. The disciples were terrified at seeing Jesus walk on the water, but he tells them to have courage. Peter endeavours to go to Jesus. His faith decreases as the wind picks up, and he begins to sink. Does that sometimes feel like us? Do we start sinking when circumstances get difficult and the result we hope for isn’t realised as quickly as we wished and we lose sight of our goal? In times of difficulty let us pray for courage so that we don’t sink under the weight of our troubles. Jesus is always there to strengthen us and provide a way.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Contemplative Prayer
When a soul finds itself regularly and easily entering into
contact with God, this is often called the “prayer of simplicity.” The soul
finds itself easily gazing silently at the grandeur of God. Because so little
effort is required in this kind of almost exclusively affective meditation, it
is often called contemplative prayer.
August
11
St. Clare
(1194-1253)
St. Clare
(1194-1253)
One of the more sugary movies made about Francis of Assisi
(October 4) pictures Clare as a golden-haired beauty floating through
sun-drenched fields, a sort of one-woman counterpart to the new Franciscan
Order.
The
beginning of her religious life was indeed movie material. Having refused to
marry at 15, she was moved by the dynamic preaching of Francis. He became her
lifelong friend and spiritual guide.
At 18,
she escaped one night from her father’s home, was met on the road by friars
carrying torches, and in the poor little chapel called the Portiuncula received
a rough woolen habit, exchanged her jeweled belt for a common rope with knots
in it, and sacrificed the long tresses to Francis’ scissors. He placed her in a
Benedictine convent, which her father and uncles immediately stormed in rage.
She clung to the altar of the church, threw aside her veil to show her cropped
hair and remained adamant.
End of
movie material. Sixteen days later her sister Agnes joined her. Others came.
They lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity and complete seclusion
from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order
(Poor Clares). Francis obliged her under obedience at age 21 to accept the
office of abbess, one she exercised until her death.
The nuns
went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete
silence. (Later Clare, like Francis, persuaded her sisters to moderate this
rigor: “Our bodies are not made of brass.”) The greatest emphasis, of course,
was on gospel poverty. They possessed no property, even in common, subsisting
on daily contributions. When even the pope tried to persuade her to mitigate
this practice, she showed her characteristic firmness: “I need to be absolved
from my sins, but I do not wish to be absolved from the obligation of following
Jesus Christ.”
Contemporary
accounts glow with admiration of her life in the convent of San Damiano in
Assisi. She served the sick, waited on table, washed the feet of the begging
nuns. She came from prayer, it was said, with her face so shining it dazzled
those about her. She suffered serious illness for the last 27 years of her
life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals and bishops often came to
consult her—she never left the walls of San Damiano.
Francis
always remained her great friend and inspiration. She was always obedient to
his will and to the great ideal of gospel life which he was making real.
A
well-known story concerns her prayer and trust. She had the Blessed Sacrament
placed on the walls of the convent when it faced attack by invading Saracens.
“Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the
defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I beseech you, dear Lord,
protect these whom I am now unable to protect.” To her sisters she said, “Don’t
be afraid. Trust in Jesus.” The Saracens fled.
Stories:
: On her
deathbed, Clare was heard to say to herself: “Go forth in peace, for you have
followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made
you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you,
my God, for having created me.”
Comment:
The 41 years of Clare’s religious life are poor movie material, but they are a scenario of sanctity: an indomitable resolve to lead the simple, literal gospel life as Francis taught her; courageous resistance to the ever-present pressure to dilute the ideal; a passion for poverty and humility; an ardent life of prayer; and a generous concern for her sisters.
The 41 years of Clare’s religious life are poor movie material, but they are a scenario of sanctity: an indomitable resolve to lead the simple, literal gospel life as Francis taught her; courageous resistance to the ever-present pressure to dilute the ideal; a passion for poverty and humility; an ardent life of prayer; and a generous concern for her sisters.
Patron Saint of:
Eye disorders
Television
Eye disorders
Television
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 17,22-27
Lectio:
Monday, August 11, 2014
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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