GOSPEL, Mark (12: 13-17)

Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

 

The Question about Paying Taxes

¹³ Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. ¹⁴ And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” ¹⁶ And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

The Gospel of the Lord

 

 REFLECTION

 GIVE CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR’S AND GOD WHAT IS GOD’S…

The Jews, dominated politically by the Romans and religiously by a cold and irrational religion, living in the most terrible slavery, were fascinated by the liberating message of a young Galilean Rabbi.

Children, poor and sick came to Him to hear the beautiful stories about a new kingdom where all men, forming a single Family, lived as brothers cherished by Yahweh, Father full of mercy and kindness.

However, the Pharisees, who held religious power, considered Jesus a threat to their social and religious prestige. They therefore decided to look for a way to disavow His teachings and set the people against Him.

 Pretending to be his disciples, they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” The answer would mark his condemnation. If He said taxation was allowed, He would be in contradiction to Jewish feelings, if He said it wasn’t allowed they could present His teachings as being against the emperor.

Jesus then asked them to show Him a coin and said, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And so Jesus made the problem worse by leaving his enemies speechless.

This incident reminds us of our duties as good Christians and honest citizens. Let the world be given what is of the world and God what is with God’s.

 

PRAYER

Give us the grace, Lord, to discover the true path to happiness. Inspire us with what we should say and do without becoming involved in political pitfalls and in malicious agendas serving only You by assisting all those in need. Amen.