But he will rise on the third day.” The Twelve were deeply grieved. When they returned to
Capernaum, the temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, “Does your master
pay the temple tax?” He answered, “Yes.” Peter then entered the house; and immediately,
Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Simon? Who pay taxes or tribute to the kings of the
earth: their sons or strangers and aliens?” Peter replied, “Strangers and aliens.” And
Jesus told him, “The sons, then, are tax-free. But, so as not to offend these people, go
to the sea, throw in a hook, and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find
a coin in it. Take the coin and give it to them for you and for me.”

Reflect

“Duty as God's children.” We may remember that it is not by Peter’s merit that he was
able to make a profession of faith. Today, we may reflect further on our status and duty
as God’s children. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asked Peter about who must pay the tax –
was it the son or the foreigner? Peter answered that the foreigners were the ones
required to pay the tax. During the time of Jesus, every male Jew, above nineteen
years old, was required to give an annual contribution for the upkeeping of the temple
(cf. Ex. 30:11-16; Neh. 10:33). It was their obligation. When Jesus said that the
children were exempted, he was simply highlighting the status of Peter as a child of
God. Jesus was not opposing the obligation to upkeep the temple. However, he was also
stressing that our relationship with the house of God must go beyond mere obligation.
We take care of God’s house because we are God’s children and it is our house too. With
Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, we have realized that the entire creation is God’s house. Now,
to care for our common home has become both an obligation and expression of our true
nature as God’s children.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2024