TOBIT 2: 9-14/ MARK 12: 13-17
The Pharisees and the Herodians continued in their common cause of opposing Jesus as well as their hypocrisy. In our gospel reading today, they sought to put Jesus between the devil and deep blue sea. If he had disregarded the payment of tax to Caeser, he would have put himself in trouble with the state. They wanted him to look bad in the eyes of the people. In order to achieve this, they came up with a flattering statement; “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?” for some of us who are quite egoistic, we might think that those words are actually meant acknowledge our courage and strength and therefore fall for it. But, when looked at from a larger point of view, we would see the hypocrisy that lurks therein. Jesus, saw right through the hypocrisy of the people, and acknowledged the payment of tax thereby bringing shame and disappointment to the people who hitherto believed they have been able to trap him. Once more, the wisdom of Christ is displayed as he tactfully answered their question. He seized the opportunity to teach us as Christians to always give that which belongs to God to God. We have duties towards God, as we have towards the state. One should not obstruct the other. As a matter of fact, St. Paul in his letter to the Romans chapter 13:6-8 submits; “that is also why you pay tax because the authorities are working for God when they fulfill their duties. Pay them what owe them… and show respect and honor for them all”
There is also a deeper meaning to our gospel reading this morning. We also have been stamped by God’s mark of ownership. We have is image and likeness in us. We also, must give ourselves wholly to God, and not share ourselves with the devil by living lives that does not glorify God’s name. Let us therefore pray this day that God should grant us the wisdom to be able to discern the boundaries between our duties towards him and to that which does not concern him. Amen
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