God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today’s Gospel acclamation seems much easier to digest than the Gospel reading. In it, the collectors of the temple tax ask Peter if Jesus pays his taxes. Peter replies that he does, and then goes to where Jesus is staying. Already knowing what has just occurred, Jesus then asks Peter who kings take taxes from, subjects or foreigners. Peter replies “from foreigners,” and Jesus tells him, “Then the subjects are exempt.” So that they “may not offend” the tax collectors, Jesus tells Peter to go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the coin out of the fish he catches to give to the collectors.
Thank you, God, for this story from Matthew. I don’t fully understand what it means, so help me bring it to clarity in my own life today and in days to come. I think Jesus is doing here what he did elsewhere by saying, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” That is, be responsible for what the state requires of you but allow God to free you to belong to him.
God, help me realize that you made me to be free so that I can choose to put you first in all things. Biographies of Saint Dominic say that he spoke little unless it was with God in prayer, or about God to others as a way to instruct his brothers. Let my plans be subordinate to your will, and help me see your will in every decision I freely make today.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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