[Catholic Caucus Devotional] My Catholic Life! Catholic Daily Reflections: The Path to True Unity

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “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?” Mark 12:13–14

Just prior to today’s Gospel, the chief priests, scribes, and elders confronted Jesus in the Temple area while He taught, challenging His authority to drive out the moneychangers and merchants. Though they withdrew out of fear of opposition from the crowds, they sent the Pharisees and Herodians to trap Him (cf. Mark 11:27–33). The alliance of these five groups, who were often opposed to one another—especially the Pharisees and the Herodians—well illustrates the old adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to oral traditions derived from the Mosaic Law. They frequently clashed with the chief priests and elders, who focused on Temple worship and ceremonial rites.

The Herodians were despised by both the Pharisees and the other leaders for their support of Herod and Roman occupation. Their allegiance to Rome enabled them to maintain political influence under Herod’s rule. Despite their usual animosity, these groups united in their shared opposition to Jesus. His ongoing influence among the people, His teachings that exposed their hypocrisy, and His actions in the Temple all threatened their authority and control.

Though all five of these groups are less than inspirational, we can learn from them. They depict fallen human tendencies—such as pride, fear, and self-interest—that we all struggle with. First, true unity only comes from aligning ourselves with God and His Truth, which fosters humility, charity, and a desire to seek God’s will above our own interests. By contrast, the “unity” shared by this coalition of factions was grounded in malice. Hatred can so blind us that we turn from our core values and seek ways to fuel our resentment. This is precisely what these normally divided groups did: Their mutual hatred for Jesus and fear of losing influence over the community drove them to unite in a shared mission of opposition—something we, too, can fall into if we let malice guide us.

In today’s Gospel, we can also learn from the questioning of the Pharisees and Herodians. They begin with flattery, which is always deceptive and manipulative. Their insincere praise was not meant to honor Jesus but to disarm Him and lure Him into their trap. Perhaps they failed to recall the wisdom found in Proverbs: “Those who speak flattery to their neighbor cast a net at their feet” (29:5) or “Charm is deceptive…” (31:30). Flattery not only deceives others but often ensnares those who use it, leading them into sin, as seen in today’s Gospel.

Reflect today on these fallen human tendencies vividly illustrated by these five groups who were aligned in their opposition to our Lord. When you look at your own “alliances,” what is it that unites you? Shared hate and resentment? A common fear or opposition to something? Bonds formed over shared negativity or resentment are fleeting and destructive. True and lasting unity is found only in aligning ourselves with the Truth of the Word of God, striving together for holiness, and building relationships grounded in Christ. Reflect on whether your relationships draw you closer to Christ or distract you from Him, and seek to realign them with His Truth.

Lord of all Wisdom, at times I form bonds, like the Pharisees and Herodians, that are grounded in sin and negative emotions rather than in Your charity and truth. Free me, I pray, from these oppressive sins, and make me honest, pure of heart, and a seeker of the unity found only in You. Jesus, I trust in You.

NAVARRE BIBLE COMMENTARY(RSV)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

Today’s First Reading

From: 2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18

Moral Lessons to be Drawn
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[11] Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness [12] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! [13] But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

[14] Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. [15a] And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation.

[17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

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Commentary:

11-16. The writer now follows up these considerations with a moral exhortation, based on the conviction that the old world will disappear (v. 12) producing new heavens and a new earth (v. 13), and that men living in the period prior to this cataclysm will not know when it is going to happen (v. 15).

All this should not make Christians afraid; in fact, it should bolster their hope (vv. 12-14). God will keep his promise to grant heaven to those who persevere in good; but this hope of future reward should not lead one to neglect temporal affairs: "Far from diminishing our concern to develop the earth, the expectancy of a new earth should spur us on, for it is here that the body of a new human family grows, foreshadowing in some way the age which is to come" (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 39).

Hope opens the way to upright conduct (v. 11) of an even higher standard (v. 14). Christians should realize that they have a pressing duty to grow in virtue as long as they live in this world (v. 15): "God may have given us just one more year in which to serve him. Don't think of five, or even two. Just concentrate on this one year, that has just started. Give it to God, don't bury it! This is the resolution we ought to make" (St J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 47).

The practice of virtue leads to holiness and enduring union with God (v. 14; cf. 1 Thess 3:13). "'While we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord' (2 Cor 5:6) and, although we have the first fruits of the Spirit, we groan inwardly (cf. Rom 8:23) in our anxiety to be with Christ (cf. Phil 1:23). The same love urges us to live more for Him who died for us and who rose again (cf. 2 Cor 5:15). We make it our aim, then, to please the Lord in all things (cf. 2 Cor 5:9) and we put on the armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and resist the evil day (cf. Eph 6: 13)" ("Lumen Gentium", 48).

12. "Waiting for and hastening": these two verbs convey the idea that Christian hope is something dynamic; it is in no way passive. Contrary to a view quite widespread among the Jews of the time, it does not mean that the Parousia will come sooner, the more meritorious men are; what it means is that the more closely united to Christ they are, the nearer they are to his glory. Therefore, it is urgent that all should embrace faith in Christ. We who have this faith pray in the Our Father, "Thy kingdom come." The first Christians made the same petition in their ejaculatory prayer, "Marana tha", "Come, Lord" (1 Cor 16:22; Rev 22:20), referring to the second coming of the Lord.

"The day of God": the usual expression in the New Testament is "the day of the Lord" (1 Cor 1:8; 5:5; 1 Thess 5:2; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Pet 3:10); both expressions refer to the point at which Christ will come to judge the living and the dead.

13. "New heavens and a new earth": one of things promised for the End is that creation will be renewed, re-fashioned: the prophets proclaimed this (cf. Is 65:17), and the New Testament speaks of drinking new wine at the heavenly banquet (cf. Mt 14:25), being given a new name (cf. Rev 2:17), singing a new song (cf. Rev 5:9), living in a new Jerusalem (Rev 21:3). All this imagery conveys the idea that the whole universe will be transformed, man included (cf. Rom 8:19-22). "We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man (cf. Acts 1:7) nor the way the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away (cf. 1 Cor 7:31), and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (cf. 2 Cor 5:2; 2 Pet 3:13), whose happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men" ("Gaudium Et Spes", 39).

17-18. The letter ends with a very succinct summary of some of its main points-- pastoral concern, ways to defend oneself against false teachers, and faith in the divinity of Christ.

"Beloved": the faithful are referred to in this solicitous way elsewhere in the letter (3:1, 8, 14). The warnings and threats made by the sacred writer are born of his pastoral zeal to establish them in the truth (1:12) and remind them what the true teaching is (3:1).

When he encourages them not to lose their "own strength", he is reminding them that firmness in the faith is an essential weapon for protecting themselves against deceitful teachers who are causing their faith and morals to waver (cf. 2; 3:16). Understanding and love should be shown towards those who are in error, but this should not "make us indifferent to truth and goodness. Love, in fact, impels the followers of Christ to proclaim to all men the truth which saves ("Gaudium Et Spes", 28).

"To him be the glory": most of the doxologies which appear in the New Testament are in praise of God the Father (cf. Jude 25; Rom 16:27); this one addressed to Christ, whose divinity, as in other passages of the epistle, is openly confessed, He has the same glory as the Father: the doxology is not simply expressing a desire but stating a fact. The eternal love of Jesus Christ is the basis of the Christian's hope. "While she slowly grows to maturity, the Church longs for the completed Kingdom and, with all her strength, hopes and desires, to be united in glory with her King" ("Lumen Gentium", 5).

Today’s Gospel Reading

From: Mark 12:13-17

On tribute to Caesar
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[13] And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'di-ans, to entrap him in his talk. [14] And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? [15] Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." [16] And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." [17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.

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Commentary:

13-17. Jesus uses this situation to teach that man belongs totally to his Creator: "You must perforce give Caesar the coin which bears his likeness, but let you give your whole being to God, because it is his likeness, not Caesar's that you bear" (St. Jerome, "Comm. in Marcum, in loc.").

Our Lord here asserts a principle which should guide the action of Christians in public life. The Church recognizes the rightful autonomy of earthly realities, but this does not mean that she has not a responsibility to light them up with the light of the Gospel. When they work shoulder to shoulder with other citizens to develop society, Christian lay people should bring a Christian influence to bear: "If the role of the Hierarchy is to teach and to interpret authentically the norms of morality to be followed in this matter, it belongs to lay people, without waiting passively for orders and directives, to take the initiative freely and to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws and structures of the community in which they live. Changes are necessary, basic reforms are indispensable; lay people should strive resolutely to permeate them with the spirit of the Gospel" (St. Paul VI, "Populorum Progressio", 81).

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