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Regnum Christi

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.