FIRST READING
Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c
On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year, that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile, The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.— There the hand of the LORD came upon me.
As I looked, a stormwind came from the North, a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness, from the midst of which (the midst of the fire) something gleamed like electrum. Within it were figures resembling four living creatures that looked like this: their form was human.
Then I heard the sound of their wings, like the roaring of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty. When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army. And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man. Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with splendor. Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights; Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples, the princes and all the judges of the earth, Young men too, and maidens, old men and boys,
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And he has lifted up the horn of his people. Be this his praise from all his faithful ones, from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia.
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
See 2 Thessalonians 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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.”
REFLECTIONS:
Who likes to pay taxes, especially when you think
they might be unreasonable or unjust? Jesus and his disciples were confronted
by tax collectors on the issue of tax evasion. When questioned about paying
the temple tax, Jesus replied to his disciples: We must pay so as not to
cause bad example. In fact, we must go beyond our duty in order that we
may show others what they ought to do. The scriptural expression to give
no offense doesn't refer to insult or annoyance; rather it means to put
no stumbling block in the way of another that would cause them to trip
or fall. Jesus would not allow himself anything which might possibly be
a bad example to someone else. Do you evade unpleasant responsibilities
or obligations?
On three different occasions the Gospels record that Jesus predicted
he would endure great suffering through betrayal, rejection, and the punishment
of a cruel death. The Jews resorted to stoning and the Romans to crucifixion
the most painful and humiliating death they could devise for criminals
they wanted to eliminate. No wonder the apostles were greatly distressed
at such a prediction! If Jesus their Master were put to death, then they
would likely receive the same treatment by their enemies. Jesus called
himself the "Son of Man" because this was a common Jewish title for the
Messiah. Why must the Messiah be rejected and killed? Did not God promise
that his Anointed One would deliver his people from their oppression and
establish a kingdom of peace and justice? The prophet Isaiah had foretold
that it was God's will that the "Suffering Servant" make atonement for
sins through his suffering and death. Jesus paid the price for our redemption
with his blood. Slavery to sin is to want the wrong things and to be in
bondage to destructive desires. The ransom Jesus paid sets us free from
the worst tyranny possible the tyranny of sin and the fear of death.
Jesus' victory did not end with death but triumphed over the tomb. Jesus
defeated the powers of death through his resurrection. Do you want the
greatest freedom possible, the freedom to live as God truly meant us to
live as his sons and daughters?
"Lord Jesus, your death brought life and freedom. May I always walk
in that freedom and be guided by your love and truth that I may be generous
towards all and give each their due."
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