The Gospel according to 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:
Good morning, friends! Today’s reflection comes to you from Killarney, Ireland, as Linda and I are on a pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle. It’s been an amazing time here, walking in the footsteps of St Patrick, and the other great saints of Ireland. Please know that you are all in our prayers today, and as we continue this time here. It has been wonderful, but we will be happy to be back in our own bed again at the end of this week!
Today’s Gospel immediately follows yesterday’s, where Jesus tells a parable directed primarily at the religious leaders of the Jews, pointing out how they were the evil tenants who killed the son of the landowner, rather than accept him. It was all about their antipathy to Jesus, but they were afraid to confront Him further, as they feared the crowds.
Today, the Pharisees team up with an enemy, the Herodians, to test Jesus and catch Him in something He may say. The whole tale of today’s Gospel is really about how believers are to live in a secular world, especially when those two worlds collide. I probably don’t have to explain more than that, but I did want to share a few words with you, as it is primary election day, at least in California today.
Perhaps in times past, it was much easier to determine how to vote on this candidate or that candidate, or this proposition or that measure. One party and its supporters could be counted on to reliably stand on the same side as the Church on what is up for vote. Today, with how divided and contentious things are between the two main parties, those easy ways of distinguishing how to vote are not so clear. Can we vote for a candidate who has a position on some issue that is in opposition with the Church? Can we support a proposition that is itself sponsored or funded by a group that by its actions shows they are in opposition with the Church? Both of these questions are real, and are questions that we face every time we fill out a ballot. I am not the one to give you the answers to either of those questions, as they are up to each person to discern, through prayer.
The bottom line, I would say, is that we should learn all we can, from unbiased sources, about the options placed before us. Then, we should pray, and ask our loving God to give us the wisdom to choose the measures and candidates that He calls us to support. Our electoral system is not perfect by any means. But, it does give us a chance to express our views in a way that can change the ones who are in charge in our secular government. It is a right that many have died for down through the last two centuries, and one that we should not fail to appreciate and act upon.
I would also add that we should pray for our leaders – local, county, state, and national – that they, too, would seek wisdom from God and then follow that wisdom to act in a way that serves all of the citizens they represent, the least and the outcast no less than the wealthy and connected.
Action for the Day:
Pray for our leaders, and pray for all who are still deciding how they will vote. May they all have God’s wisdom, and may we all take our right to vote seriously, and allow our Catholic faith to help us be good citizens of our city, county, state and nation, even as we look forward to our ultimate citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
If you would like to hear this reflection, click the link below!
Brother, THANK YOU for your great reflection today. It was beautiful, had great wisdom and I felt your prayers and blessings for us.
May you and Linda be blessed with the same blessings you showered us, so you may continue to have a fruitful pilgrimage and a safe flight back home. Peace be!
Carlos–