Divine Taxes and Taxing the Divine
August 13, 2007

Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Father Ned Brown, LC

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, I believe in you, the Creator of the universe, the creator of my soul. I trust in you, for you providently watch over my life and care for my well-being. I love you, for you are faithful to your promises. Increase my faith, hope, and love, so I may be always faithful to your friendship.

Petition: Lord, increase the virtue of hope in me, so I may always act in such a way that is pleasing to you, knowing that you are always faithful to your promises.

1. I’m Not Listening Our Lord’s prophecy sunk the hearts of his apostles. By their reaction to the news, it would seem like they only heard the first half of it, that is to say: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him.” We too, frequently stop listening to our Lord when the mere rumor of the cross is mentioned. How is my attitude toward the crosses in my life? Do the crosses I bear bring me to greater sanctity, or do I lose faith and trust in Christ’s promises?

2. Taxing God? These temple tax collectors obviously reviewed the books and saw that Christ and his apostles were negligent on their payments. Peter appears caught in tax evasion, however, our Lord removes the chains of legalism that appear to bind Peter. After all, taxes are more of the realm of human conventions rather than divine laws. Our Lord proves his divinity by performing the miracle of the taxpaying fish. Since our Lord is the true temple of God and is God, he really is not bound to pay any temple tax. To avoid causing scandal they prudently, albeit miraculously, pay the tax. They do so only because the tax collectors are unbelieving and closed off to the reality of our Lord’s divinity. They are unable to see anything but a scandal behind Peter’s and Christ’s demeanor. Let not our hearts become like these men. “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [i.e. riches]” (Luke 16:13).

3. Carry Your Cross Until the Coming of Christ’s Glory The fear of the cross and the power of riches are common obstacles to our faith and total trust in our Lord’s promises. If we examine our lives truthfully, we would see how successful these are in pulling us away from God’s plan of holiness for our lives. The cross threatens us with the feeling of being left abandoned and empty. The riches of the world falsely promise to fill us with lasting happiness. Have I found in Christ the source of my true riches? Lord, strengthen my faith enough to endure the storms of temptation I face everyday until your coming in glory.

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I know you are faithful to your promises always. I thank you for the meditation this day and all the grace it entails. Help me to live today as another opportunity to carry my cross out of love for you and be a witness of your charity to those around me.

Resolution: I will offer up without complaint the crosses of my day for the conversion of a hardened sinner.

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 122 (123)
The Lord guards his people
To you I lift up my eyes, to you who dwell in the heavens. Like the eyes of a servant watching his master, like the eyes of a maid on her mistress’s hands, so we keep our eyes on the Lord our God, as we wait for his kindness. Take pity on us, Lord, take pity: we have had our fill of contempt. Our souls have had their fill of the laughter of the rich, of the contempt of the proud. 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.

Psalm 122 (123)

The Lord guards his people

To you I lift up my eyes,
to you who dwell in the heavens.

Like the eyes of a servant watching his master,
like the eyes of a maid on her mistress’s hands,
so we keep our eyes on the Lord our God,
as we wait for his kindness.

Take pity on us, Lord, take pity:
we have had our fill of contempt.
Our souls have had their fill
of the laughter of the rich,
of the contempt of the proud.

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.

Psalm 123 (124)
Our help is in the name of the Lord
If the Lord had not been with us (so let Israel sing), If the Lord had not been with us when men rose up against us, they might have skinned us alive, such was their anger. The waters could have drowned us, the torrent poured over us, the foaming waters poured over us. Blessed be the Lord, who saved us from being torn to pieces by their teeth. We have escaped, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. The snare was broken, and we escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 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.

Psalm 123 (124)

Our help is in the name of the Lord

If the Lord had not been with us
(so let Israel sing),
If the Lord had not been with us
when men rose up against us,
they might have skinned us alive,
such was their anger.
The waters could have drowned us,
the torrent poured over us,
the foaming waters poured over us.

Blessed be the Lord, who saved us
from being torn to pieces by their teeth.
We have escaped, like a bird
from the snare of the fowler.
The snare was broken,
and we escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

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.

Canticle	Ephesians 1
God the Saviour
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In love, he chose us before the creation of the world, to be holy and spotless in his sight. He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, simply because it pleased him to do so. This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace, of his free gift of us in his Beloved, in whose blood we have gained redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins. This he did according to the riches of his grace, which he gave us in abundance, with all wisdom and discernment, revealing to us the mysteries of his will, because it pleased him to do so. In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time, to bring all things together in Christ, from the heavens and from the earth. 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.

Canticle

Ephesians 1

God the Saviour

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us, in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in heaven.

In love, he chose us before the creation of the world,
to be holy and spotless in his sight.

He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ,
simply because it pleased him to do so.

This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace,
of his free gift of us in his Beloved,

in whose blood we have gained redemption,
and the forgiveness of our sins.

This he did according to the riches of his grace,
which he gave us in abundance,

with all wisdom and discernment,
revealing to us the mysteries of his will,
because it pleased him to do so.

In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time,
to bring all things together in Christ,
from the heavens and from the earth.

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.

Short reading	James 4:11 - 12 ©
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who slanders a brother, or condemns him, is speaking against the Law and condemning the Law. But if you condemn the Law, you have stopped keeping it and become a judge over it. There is only one lawgiver and he is the only judge and has the power to acquit or to sentence. Who are you to give a verdict on your neighbour?

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. 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.

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

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.

Prayers and Intercessions

It is Christ’s will to lead all men to final salvation. With sincere hearts let us pray to him: - Lord, draw all things to yourself.
Blessed are you, Lord: with your precious blood you ransomed us from the slavery of sin:: give us the freedom that belongs to the children of glory.
Give your grace to our Bishop N., and to all the bishops of your Church: may they celebrate your mysteries with ardent joy.
To all who seek the truth, grant the joy of finding what they seek,: and let them live always according to that truth.
Lord, be near to orphans, widows, and all who are abandoned:: may they feel your presence and keep always close to you.
In your goodness, receive our deceased into your heavenly city,: where you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, will be all in all.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

God, you are truly said to be inexhaustible light.
You have brought us to this hour:
enlighten our souls and be pleased to forget our sins.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N