Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and
Martyr
Lectionary: 354
Lectionary: 354
Beloved:
Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned,
be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled
and to fall from your own stability.
But grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned,
be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled
and to fall from your own stability.
But grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 AND
16
R. (1) In
every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Seventy is the sum of our years,
or eighty, if we are strong,
And most of them are fruitless toil,
for they pass quickly and we drift away.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Seventy is the sum of our years,
or eighty, if we are strong,
And most of them are fruitless toil,
for they pass quickly and we drift away.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
AlleluiaSEE EPH 1:17-18
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 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.
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.
Meditation: "Give to God what belongs to
God"
What do we owe God and what's our obligation towards
others? Paul the Apostle tells us that we must give each what is their due
(Romans 13:6-8). The Jewish authorities sought to trap Jesus in a
religious-state dispute over the issue of taxes. The Jews resented their
foreign rulers and despised paying taxes to Caesar. They posed a dilemma to
test Jesus to see if he would make a statement they could use against him. If
Jesus answered that it was lawful to pay taxes to a pagan ruler, then he would
lose credibility with the Jewish populace who would regard him as a coward and
a friend of Caesar. If he said it was not lawful, then the Pharisees would have
grounds to report him to the Roman authorities as a political trouble-maker and
have him arrested.
Jesus avoided their trap by confronting them with the
image of a coin. Coinage in the ancient world had significant political power.
Rulers issued coins with their own image and inscription on them. In a certain
sense the coin was regarded as the personal property of the ruler. Where the
coin was valid the ruler held political sway over the people. Since the Jews
used the Roman currency, Jesus explained that what belonged to Caesar must be
given to Caesar.
We belong to God and not to ourselves
This story has another deeper meaning as well. We, too, have been stamped with God's image since we are created in his own likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). We rightfully belong, not to ourselves, but to God who created us and redeemed us in the precious blood of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul the Apostle says that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). Do you acknowledge that your life belongs to God and not to yourself? And do you give to God what rightfully belongs to Him?
This story has another deeper meaning as well. We, too, have been stamped with God's image since we are created in his own likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). We rightfully belong, not to ourselves, but to God who created us and redeemed us in the precious blood of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul the Apostle says that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). Do you acknowledge that your life belongs to God and not to yourself? And do you give to God what rightfully belongs to Him?
"Lord, because you have made me, I owe you the
whole of my love; because you have redeemed me, I owe you the whole of myself;
because you have promised so much, I owe you all my being. Moreover, I
owe you as much more love than myself as you are greater than I, for whom you
gave yourself and to whom you promised yourself. I pray you, Lord, make me
taste by love what I taste by knowledge; let me know by love what I know by
understanding. I owe you more than my whole self, but I have no more, and by
myself I cannot render the whole of it to you. Draw me to you, Lord, in the
fullness of love. I am wholly yours by creation; make me all yours, too, in
love." (prayer of Anselm, 1033-1109)
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Put off the earthly image and put on the
heavenly one, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254
AD)
"Some people think
that the Savior spoke on a single level when he said, 'Give to Caesar what
belongs to Caesar' - that is, 'pay the tax that you owe.' Who among us
disagrees about paying taxes to Caesar? The passage therefore has a mystical
and secret meaning. There are two images in humanity. One he received from God
when he was made, in the beginning, as Scripture says in the book of Genesis,
'according to the image and likeness of God' (Genesis 1:27). The other image is
of the earth (1 Corinthians 15:49). Man received this second image later. He
was expelled from Paradise because of disobedience and sin after the 'prince of
this world' (John 12:31) had tempted him with his enticements. Just as the
coin, or denarius, has an image of the emperor of this world, so he who does
the works of 'the ruler of the darkness' (Ephesians 6:12) bears the image of
him whose works he does. Jesus commanded that that image should be handed over
and thrown away from our face. He wills us to take on that image, according to
which we were made from the beginning, according to God's likeness. It then
happens that we give 'to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what is
God's.' Jesus said, 'Show me a coin.' For 'coin,' Matthew wrote 'denarius' (
Matthew 22:19). When Jesus had taken it, he said, 'Whose inscription does it
have?' They answered and said, 'Caesar's.' And he said to them in turn, 'Give
to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'" (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
39.4-6)
TUESDAY, JUNE
5, MARK 12:13-17
(2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18; Psalm 90)
(2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18; Psalm 90)
KEY VERSE: "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God" (v 17).
TO KNOW: Some Pharisees and Herodians (supporters of Herod Antipas) tried to entrap Jesus regarding his position on the Law. They flattered Jesus, insincerely saying that he was a "truthful teacher" of the ways of God. They asked Jesus whether or not paying taxes to the Roman Emperor violated the Mosaic Law. The Herodians were loyal to Rome, and saw no conflict in observing the Roman law. The Pharisees and Herodians intended to force Jesus into taking an anti-Roman position so that the government would do away with him. Since they were using the emperor's coins and participating in his economic system, they had already taken upon themselves the duty of paying taxes to the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar (14-37 AD). Jesus recognized their hypocrisy (play-acting), and ended the controversy by saying that they should pay "Caesar" his due. But he reminded them that they had even a greater obligation to God.
TO LOVE: Do I compromise my beliefs when I am challenged?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me the wisdom to discern the truth.
Memorial of Saint Boniface,
bishop and martyr
Boniface was educated at the Benedictine monastery at Exeter, England. He was a missionary to Germany from 719, assisted by Saint Albinus. Boniface destroyed idols and pagan temples, and then built churches on the sites. In Saxony, Boniface encountered a tribe worshipping a Norse deity in the form of a huge oak tree. Boniface walked up to the tree, removed his shirt, took up an axe, and without a word, hacked down the six foot wide wooden god. Boniface stood on the trunk, and asked, "How stands your mighty god? My God is stronger than he." The crowd's reaction was mixed, but some conversions were begun. As Archbishop of Mainz he reformed churches, built religious houses in Germany, and founded or restored the dioceses of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Franconia. Boniface evangelized in Holland, but was set upon by a troop of pagans, and he and 52 of his new flock were martyred.
Tuesday 5 June
2018
St Boniface.
2 Peter 3:11-15, 17-18. Psalm 89(90):2-4, 10, 14, 16. Mark
12:13-17.
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge—Psalm 89(90):2-4,
10, 14, 16.
‘Think of our Lord’s patience as your opportunity to be
saved.’
Seeking to trap him, the Pharisees and Herodians ask Jesus a
tough question. Jesus’ answer, to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God
what is God’s, is wise and balanced. He passes the hurdle and the people are
amazed.
How am I called to balance my multiple commitments? I am a
member of God’s people as well as a subject to various local, state and federal
governments.
As a person of faith I ask God our Lord for grace.
As a member of the wider community, I seek to make a
contribution informed by the call I receive in the depths of my heart.
Saint Boniface
Saint of the Day for June 5
(c. 675 – June 5, 754)
 |
| Saint Boniface. Engraving | H. Kipp after K. Clasen |
Saint Boniface’s Story
Boniface, known as the apostle of the Germans, was an English
Benedictine monk who gave up being elected abbot to devote his life to the
conversion of the Germanic tribes. Two characteristics stand out: his Christian
orthodoxy and his fidelity to the pope of Rome.
How absolutely necessary this orthodoxy and fidelity were is
borne out by the conditions Boniface found on his first missionary journey in
719 at the request of Pope Gregory II. Paganism was a way of life. What
Christianity he did find had either lapsed into paganism or was mixed with
error. The clergy were mainly responsible for these latter conditions since
they were in many instances uneducated, lax and questionably obedient to their
bishops. In particular instances their very ordinations were questionable.
These are the conditions that Boniface was to report in 722 on
his first return visit to Rome. The Holy Father instructed him to reform the
German Church. The pope sent letters of recommendation to religious and civil
leaders. Boniface later admitted that his work would have been unsuccessful,
from a human viewpoint, without a letter of safe-conduct from Charles Martel,
the powerful Frankish ruler, grandfather of Charlemagne. Boniface was finally
made a regional bishop and authorized to organize the whole German Church. He
was eminently successful.
In the Frankish kingdom, he met great problems because of lay
interference in bishops’ elections, the worldliness of the clergy and lack of
papal control.
During a final mission to the Frisians, Boniface and 53
companions were massacred while he was preparing converts for confirmation.
In order to restore the Germanic Church to its fidelity to Rome
and to convert the pagans, Boniface had been guided by two principles. The
first was to restore the obedience of the clergy to their bishops in union with
the pope of Rome. The second was the establishment of many houses of prayer
which took the form of Benedictine monasteries. A great number of Anglo-Saxon
monks and nuns followed him to the continent, where he introduced the
Benedictine nuns to the active apostolate of education.
Reflection
Boniface bears out the Christian rule: To follow Christ is to
follow the way of the cross. For Boniface, it was not only physical suffering
or death, but the painful, thankless, bewildering task of Church reform.
Missionary glory is often thought of in terms of bringing new persons to
Christ. It seems—but is not—less glorious to heal the household of the faith.
Saint Boniface is the Patron Saint of:
Germany
LECTIO: MARK 12:13-17
Lectio Divina:
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
Father,
Your love never fails.
Hear our call.
Keep us from danger
and provide for all our needs.
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 love never fails.
Hear our call.
Keep us from danger
and provide for all our needs.
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 - MARK
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.
3) REFLECTION
• In today’s Gospel, the confrontation
between Jesus and the authorities continues. The priests and the scribes had
been criticized and denounced by Jesus in the parable of the vineyard (Mk
12:1-12). Now, they themselves ask the Pharisees and the Herodians to set up a
trap for Jesus in order to be able to condemn Him. They ask questions to Jesus
concerning the taxes to be paid to the Romans. This was a controversial theme
which divided public opinion. The enemies of Jesus want, at all cost, to accuse
Him and diminish the influence that He had on the people. Groups which before
were enemies, now get together to fight against Jesus. This also happens today.
Many times, people or groups, enemies among themselves, get together to defend
their privileges against those who embarrass them with the announcement of
truth and of justice.
• Mark 12:13-14: The question of the Pharisees and the Herodians. The Pharisees and the Herodians were the local leaders in the villages of Galilee. It was a long time since they had decided to kill Jesus (Mk 3:6). Now, because of the order of the priests and of the elders, they want to know whether Jesus is in favor or against the payment of taxes to the Romans and to Caesar. It’s an underhanded and sly question, full of malice! Under the appearance of fidelity to the Law of God, they look for reasons in order to be able to accuse Him. If Jesus says “You should pay!” they could accuse Him of being a friend of the Romans. If He were to say, “No, you do not have to pay!” they could accuse Him of being subversive to the authority of the Romans. This seemed to be a dead end!
• Mark 12:15-17: Jesus’ answer. Jesus perceives their hypocrisy. In His response He does not lose time in useless discussion, and goes straight to the heart of the question. Instead of responding and discussing the affair of the tribute to Caesar, He asks to be shown a coin and He asks, “Whose portrait and inscription is this?” They answered, “Caesar’s!” The answer of Jesus: “Then pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” In practice, they already recognized the authority of Caesar. They were already giving to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, because they used his currency to buy and sell and even to pay the taxes of the Temple! What interested Jesus was that they should “give to God what belongs to God!” That is, they restitute the people to God, which, because of their teaching, they blocked the entrance into the Kingdom (Mk 23:13). Others explained this sentence of Jesus in another way: “Give to God what belongs to God!”. That is, practice justice and honesty as the law of God demands, because your hypocrisy denies God what is due to Him.
• Taxes, tributes, taxes and denarii. In Jesus’ time, the people of Palestine paid many taxes, tributes, including one tenth of their income, both to the Romans as well as to the temple. The Roman Empire had invaded Palestine in the year 63 AD and they imposed many taxes and tributes. According to the estimates made, half or even more of the family salaries were used to pay the tributes, taxes and the tenth of their income. The taxes which the Romans demanded were of two types: direct and indirect.
a) The Direct Tax was on property and on persons. The tax on property (tributum soli): the fiscal officers of the government verified how large the property was, the production and the number of slaves and they fixed the amount to be paid. Periodically, there was a verification through the census. The tax on persons (tributum capitis): was for the poor class who owned no land. This included both men and women, between 12 and 65 years of age.
b) The Indirect Tax was placed on transactions of different types: a crown of gold: originally, it was a gift to the Emperor, but then it became an obligatory tax. This was paid on special occasions, for example, the feast and the visits of the Emperor. The tax on salt: the salt was the monopoly of the Emperor. It was necessary to pay the tribute on salt for commercial use, as in the salt used by fishermen to dry up the fish and to sell it. From this comes the word “salary.” A tax on buying and selling: this money was paid to the fiscal officers during the holidays. A tax when a slave was bought, in every registered commercial contract, for exercising a profession: there was need for everyone to have a license for everything. Even the prostitutes had to pay. A tax for the use of public utilities: Emperor Vespasian introduced the tax on the use of the public toilets in Rome. He would say: “Money does not stink!”
c) Other taxes and obligations, toll or customs, forced work; special expenses for the army (to give hospitality to the soldiers; to pay for the food of the troops), taxes for the Temple and the worship.
• Mark 12:13-14: The question of the Pharisees and the Herodians. The Pharisees and the Herodians were the local leaders in the villages of Galilee. It was a long time since they had decided to kill Jesus (Mk 3:6). Now, because of the order of the priests and of the elders, they want to know whether Jesus is in favor or against the payment of taxes to the Romans and to Caesar. It’s an underhanded and sly question, full of malice! Under the appearance of fidelity to the Law of God, they look for reasons in order to be able to accuse Him. If Jesus says “You should pay!” they could accuse Him of being a friend of the Romans. If He were to say, “No, you do not have to pay!” they could accuse Him of being subversive to the authority of the Romans. This seemed to be a dead end!
• Mark 12:15-17: Jesus’ answer. Jesus perceives their hypocrisy. In His response He does not lose time in useless discussion, and goes straight to the heart of the question. Instead of responding and discussing the affair of the tribute to Caesar, He asks to be shown a coin and He asks, “Whose portrait and inscription is this?” They answered, “Caesar’s!” The answer of Jesus: “Then pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” In practice, they already recognized the authority of Caesar. They were already giving to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, because they used his currency to buy and sell and even to pay the taxes of the Temple! What interested Jesus was that they should “give to God what belongs to God!” That is, they restitute the people to God, which, because of their teaching, they blocked the entrance into the Kingdom (Mk 23:13). Others explained this sentence of Jesus in another way: “Give to God what belongs to God!”. That is, practice justice and honesty as the law of God demands, because your hypocrisy denies God what is due to Him.
• Taxes, tributes, taxes and denarii. In Jesus’ time, the people of Palestine paid many taxes, tributes, including one tenth of their income, both to the Romans as well as to the temple. The Roman Empire had invaded Palestine in the year 63 AD and they imposed many taxes and tributes. According to the estimates made, half or even more of the family salaries were used to pay the tributes, taxes and the tenth of their income. The taxes which the Romans demanded were of two types: direct and indirect.
a) The Direct Tax was on property and on persons. The tax on property (tributum soli): the fiscal officers of the government verified how large the property was, the production and the number of slaves and they fixed the amount to be paid. Periodically, there was a verification through the census. The tax on persons (tributum capitis): was for the poor class who owned no land. This included both men and women, between 12 and 65 years of age.
b) The Indirect Tax was placed on transactions of different types: a crown of gold: originally, it was a gift to the Emperor, but then it became an obligatory tax. This was paid on special occasions, for example, the feast and the visits of the Emperor. The tax on salt: the salt was the monopoly of the Emperor. It was necessary to pay the tribute on salt for commercial use, as in the salt used by fishermen to dry up the fish and to sell it. From this comes the word “salary.” A tax on buying and selling: this money was paid to the fiscal officers during the holidays. A tax when a slave was bought, in every registered commercial contract, for exercising a profession: there was need for everyone to have a license for everything. Even the prostitutes had to pay. A tax for the use of public utilities: Emperor Vespasian introduced the tax on the use of the public toilets in Rome. He would say: “Money does not stink!”
c) Other taxes and obligations, toll or customs, forced work; special expenses for the army (to give hospitality to the soldiers; to pay for the food of the troops), taxes for the Temple and the worship.
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• Do you know of a case where groups of
people who were enemies between themselves, but who were then united to oppose
a person who bothered or inconvenienced and denounced them? Has this happened
at any time with you?
• What is the meaning of this sentence today: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God?”
• What is the meaning of this sentence today: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God?”
• How have you handled hypocrites in
your life, either publicly as a group or in private?
• Have you been hypocritical to others?
How do you guard against this?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Each morning fill us with Your faithful
love,
we shall sing and be happy all our days;
Show Your servants the deeds You do,
let their children enjoy Your splendor! (Ps 90:14:16)
we shall sing and be happy all our days;
Show Your servants the deeds You do,
let their children enjoy Your splendor! (Ps 90:14:16)
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