Reading 1
Tb 2:9-14
On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead,
I, Tobit, went into my courtyard
to sleep next to the courtyard wall.
My face was uncovered because of the heat.
I did not know there were birds perched on the wall above me,
till their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing cataracts.
I went to see some doctors for a cure
but the more they anointed my eyes with various salves,
the worse the cataracts became,
until I could see no more.
For four years I was deprived of eyesight, and
all my kinsmen were grieved at my condition.
Ahiqar, however, took care of me for two years,
until he left for Elymais.
At that time, my wife Anna worked for hire
at weaving cloth, the kind of work women do.
When she sent back the goods to their owners, they would pay her.
Late in winter on the seventh of Dystrus,
she finished the cloth and sent it back to the owners.
They paid her the full salary
and also gave her a young goat for the table.
On entering my house the goat began to bleat.
I called to my wife and said: “Where did this goat come from?
Perhaps it was stolen! Give it back to its owners;
we have no right to eat stolen food!”
She said to me, “It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages.”
Yet I would not believe her,
and told her to give it back to its owners.
I became very angry with her over this.
So she retorted: “Where are your charitable deeds now?
Where are your virtuous acts?
See! Your true character is finally showing itself!”
Ps 112:1-2, 7-8, 9
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 7c)
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 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.
Meditation: Mark 12:13-17
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Mark 12:17)
A number of Jewish leaders had been opposed to Jesus for some time. Now, with Jesus in the holy city for Passover, their plotting against him heated up. The Pharisees, who resented Roman rule, and the Herodians, who supported it, teamed up to ensnare him.
First, they flattered Jesus to catch him off guard; then they sprang their trap: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” (Mark 12:14). It was a clever strategy: If Jesus answered “yes‚” he would be discredit with the people, who opposed the Roman occupation. If he answered “no‚” he would be in trouble with the Romans.
But Jesus was not about to be trapped. Instead, he moved the argument out of the realm of politics and into the realm of faith. He acknowledged Caesar’s authority to collect taxes. But he was just as clear that he was not a political Messiah, coming to establish an earthly kingdom.
Jesus distinguished between the tribute paid to Caesar, in the form of taxes, and the tribute that is due to God in the form of devotion, obedience, and love. Just as Roman coins bore the image of Caesar, we bear the image of God. This is the image that concerns Jesus above all else. He knows that if we strive to develop our likeness to him, everything else will fall into place.
Make no mistake. Money is necessary to provide for our families and to care for others. But Jesus calls us not to define ourselves solely in financial terms. He wants us to be responsible stewards, but he wants us to give our hearts— who we are—to him. He invites us to look beyond the concerns of this world and develop a grateful generosity toward God and the needy. He promises that as we pour out our hearts in love and service to him, his peace will replace our weariness. Problems will seem less overwhelming. We will find an energy and desire to please God that we never thought we could have.
“Jesus, I give you my life. Help me to honor you with my life. Teach me to dedicate myself to serving your kingdom.”
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