PRI Reflections on Scripture | Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

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25d ago 6:22

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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,

"Does not 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.”

Reflection

Jesus reveals to his disciples that he’s going to be murdered, and that order is going to come from the temple. And then there's this strange question that comes up next. Do you have to pay tax to the temple? And Jesus explains, no, in his case, he doesn't really have to. Then he creates a miracle to take care of the payment.

But he's not required to. But he does it because it's the right thing to do. So often it's not about rules and regulations. It's about where we are in our hearts. And he didn't want to create a lot of confusion.

Closing Prayer

Father, life is not made up of obligations only. It's not about fulfilling them. It's about making decisions that create an environment and an atmosphere of peace and understanding. Bless us with that kind of wisdom when it comes to our obligations. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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