Daily HOMILY for August 14, 2017: Monday in the 19th Week of Ordinary Time

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Monday 19^th Week in Ordinary Time

August 14, 2017

TAX EXEMPT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The issue of the payment of the temple tax forms the core of today’s gospel

Ø  Scripture scholars give us some interesting insights into what is going on here

THOUGH HE PAYS TAX ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  First, in the conversation between Jesus and Peter, what emerges is that kings do not impose taxes on their own family and subjects

Ø  Instead, they collect taxes from foreigners whose country they have defeated and subjugated

Ø  On that, Jesus says that he is exempt from the tax

WHY’S JESUS EXEMPT? ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Why does he say that?

Ø  Scholars say the king Jesus is referring to here is really God & since J is Son of God, he’s exempt

Ø  So here is a subtle claim to his being Son of God

MODELS DUTY TO SOCIETY +++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Still, J agrees 2 pay tax so as not to offend anyone

Ø  Idea is he wants to be a good example to others

Ø  So upholds need 4 responsibility & duty 2 society

Ø  So he wants to pay the tax

HOW TO MEET DUTY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Finally, there’s interesting way 4 getting the $$$

Ø  J tells Peter 2 get the coin out of mouth of a fish

Ø  If it were only so easy to pay our bills that way!

Ø  Well, 1 Scripture scholar clarifies that J refuses to perform miracles for his own benefit or ends

Ø  E.g., in desert he refuses to turn stone into bread

Ø  What J is doing isn’t making something miraculous happen – like getting coin from a fish

Ø  Instead, he’s using an idiom of day and his language and really telling Peter 2 go back 2 his job of fishing and there will B enough $ to pay tax

Ø  In effect saying to Peter, “You’ll get plenty of $$$ out of fish you catch in order to pay the bills”

Ø  Jesus reaffirms a sense of responsibility and work

LESSONS LEARNED +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  We’re not beyond the law

Ø  We can B G abiding in Jesus who is the Son of God

Ø  And we can be tax abiding making enough from our labor to do so

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++