The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the challenge presented by Jesus to be active Christians and people who respect our civil obligations.
In the reading from the Book of Tobit, his wife earns their livelihood.
* [2:10] White scales: or white films. A primitive way of describing an eye ailment that results in blindness. Elam: or in Greek, Elymais, an ancient district northeast of the head of the Persian Gulf.
* [2:12] Seventh day of the month of Dystrus: late in winter. The Macedonian month Dystros corresponds to the Jewish month of Shebat (January–February). A meal: lit., “for the hearth”; the gift had probably been made in view of some springtime festival like the Jewish Purim.
* [2:14] Anna’s sharp rebuke calls to mind the words of Job’s wife (Jb 2:9). (Tobit, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
Psalm 112 praises the blessings of the Righteous
* [Psalm 112] An acrostic poem detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children (Ps 112:2), wealth that enables them to be magnanimous (Ps 112:3, 5, 9), and virtue by which they encourage others (Ps 112:4). The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled (Ps 112:10). The logic resembles Ps 1; 111. (Psalms, PSALM 112, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus addresses the question about Paying Taxes.
* [12:13–34] In the ensuing conflicts (cf. also Mk 2:1–3:6) Jesus vanquishes his adversaries by his responses to their questions and reduces them to silence (Mk 12:34).
* [12:13–17] See note on Mt 22:15–22. (Mark, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Barbara Dilly comments that what Jesus wants us to see is that God also provides us with benefits and we need to repay God for them as well.
This brings me back to those political problems we have to work out with each other….ever since I started listening carefully to the social teachings of the Catholic Church and learning about Ignatian spirituality, I increasingly feel called to work through the political process to help the poor by removing injustices in the system. For me, spiritual growth occurs as a result of trying to respond to the needs in our society by sharing God’s love and truth regarding the needs of others with more courage. That means working to educate our youth to recognize the needs of the poor and the misunderstood in our society and to identify responses to those needs. So today, I pray that even the writing of this reflection is a form of repayment for the strength I have been given to seek justice. I write with a grateful heart that is firm and trusting in the Lord. And I give thanks for all of you, my brothers and sisters in faith who repay God with your hearts and whole selves while also repaying Caesar. (Dilly, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Put off the earthly image and put on the heavenly one,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Some people think that the Savior spoke on a single level when he said, 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar' - that is, 'pay the tax that you owe.' Who among us disagrees about paying taxes to Caesar? The passage therefore has a mystical and secret meaning. There are two images in humanity. One he received from God when he was made, in the beginning, as Scripture says in the book of Genesis, 'according to the image and likeness of God' (Genesis 1:27). The other image is of the earth (1 Corinthians 15:49). Man received this second image later. He was expelled from Paradise because of disobedience and sin after the 'prince of this world' (John 12:31) had tempted him with his enticements. Just as the coin, or denarius, has an image of the emperor of this world, so he who does the works of 'the ruler of the darkness' (Ephesians 6:12) bears the image of him whose works he does. Jesus commanded that that image should be handed over and thrown away from our face. He wills us to take on that image, according to which we were made from the beginning, according to God's likeness. It then happens that we give 'to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what is God's.' Jesus said, 'Show me a coin.' For 'coin,' Matthew wrote 'denarius' ( Matthew 22:19). When Jesus had taken it, he said, 'Whose inscription does it have?' They answered and said, 'Caesar's.' And he said to them in turn, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'" (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 39.4-6) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 12:13-17 comments that we don’t know exactly why these men had so much trouble accepting Jesus. Perhaps they felt he was undercutting their authority with the people. Perhaps they were worried about losing status or respect. Whatever the reason, they approached Jesus with ulterior motives.
What the Pharisees said was true: Jesus does not regard status; he cares about the truth. Thank goodness for that! You can come to him in complete honesty, without any pretenses. After all, our pretenses only deceive ourselves, not God. So give him an open, trusting, truthful heart. It’s what he longs for, and it’s what will help you grow closer to him.
“Jesus, I want to share with you all that is on my heart today.” (Meditation on Mark 12:13-17, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the change in the charity of Tobit as the family difficulties grow greater. This reflection is appropriate in families. Hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Herodians is shown by carrying the coin that they try to use to trap Jesus. Friar Jude notes the range of attitudes toward government authority in the Scriptures.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces theology professor Sharon L. Baker Putt who elaborates on the metaphor of dancing to capture God’s dynamic, Trinitarian love. Through this Trinitarian image of active participation, we too become responsible for sharing the flow of love with others.
So as we participate in the divine communion of love, we work with God to bring all things back to God. We might consider it a circular motion that begins with the dance between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who then, out of the urging desire of love, invite us to join in as partners, raising us into the presence of God (Ephesians 2:6) and sending us back into the world to invite others to the heavenly ball (Matthew 28:19–20). Just as in creation, everything flows out from God, and in the divine dance God brings all things back to God in choreographed compassion. (Rohr, 2023)
We have the wisdom and patience of the Spirit to guide our struggle in the tension between the Kingdom and the State.
References
Dilly, B. (2023, June 6). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060623.html
Mark, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/12?
Meditation on Mark 12:13-17. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/06/06/700889/
Psalms, PSALM 112. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/112?1
Rohr, R. (2023, June 6). God Is Always Dancing — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-is-always-dancing-2023-06-06/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Give to God What Belongs to God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jun6
Tobit, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/tobit/2?9
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