| Gospel: | Mark 12:13-17 |
The chief priests and the scribes and the elders sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some Herodians to catch him out in what he said. These came and said to him, ‘Master, we know you are an honest man, that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you, and that you teach the way of God in all honesty. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay, yes or no?’ Seeing through their hypocrisy he said to them, ‘Why do you set this trap for me? Hand me a denarius and let me see it.’ They handed him one and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s’ they told him. Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’ This reply took them completely by surprise.
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Clifford Stanslaus RIP
Reflection:
St Justin sought “the vision of God” in philosophy until he met an elderly man on a beach who pointed to the prophets as “harbingers of divine truth”. St Justin reported, “Straightaway a flame was kindled in my soul; and a love of the prophets, and of those people who are friends of Christ possessed me…I found this philosophy alone to be safe and profitable.” He was a zealous defender of Christianity in Ephesus and Rome. He was beheaded in 165.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His detractors, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’ Commenting on this passage, St Justin wrote, “Wherefore, only God do we worship, but in other things we joyfully obey the kings and rulers of men, praying that [they] may be found to have, besides royal power, sound judgement…”
- How do you give what is due to God? What is due to the state?
- How can religion and politics make a better society?
- Where and how do you seek “the vision of God”?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Through the prayers and example of St Justin, grant us the wisdom to worship You alone and to serve our country to the best of our abilities. Amen.
(Pietro)
