Monday, June 05, 2006
Tuesday 9th Week in Ordinary Time
June 6, 2006
Tuesday 9th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II
2 PETER 3:12-15A, 17-18
Beloved: Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God, because of
which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted
by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new
earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you
await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before
him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to
be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own
stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and
savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.
MARK 12:13-17
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?" Knowing their hypocrisy he said to
them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at." They
brought one to him and he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is
this?" They replied to him, "Caesar's." So Jesus said to them, "Repay
to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." They
were utterly amazed at him.
REFLECTION
Taxation of the Jewish people by the Roman colonizer-state was a
burning issueamong the Jews of Jesus' day. The Pharisees were bitterly
opposed to taxation by Rome and they bring the subject up to Jesus.
Jesus points out to the Pharisees that the coin bears the head of the
Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. "Give to Caesar what belongs to
Caesar," he tells the Pharisees, "and to God what belongs to God." He's
telling them in effect: The Romans are here because originally you
invited them. You've benefited from their protection and rule and
peace. You use their coinage. You have an obligation to pay taxes to
Rome.
Jesus' answer, however, is not absolute, in the sense that it's not
applicable to all such situations. For example, a few years later it
definitely would not be applicable. For the Roman emperors would begin
to think of themselves as gods and would demand worship. Therefore,
Christians could no longer give to the emperor what the emperor
claimed. Giving to the emperor what belongs to him does not therefore
mean that Christians should isolate their political and civic lives
from their faith.
Every political act has a moral dimension. The Christian has to judge
the morality of these acts.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the speedy recovery of Cadio.
- for the speedy recovery of Aida.
- for complete healing of Bro. Nanding
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Adrian Colin Yao
- Wedding Anniversary: Wilson Lim & Estela Lim
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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