The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our assumptions and expectations as we encounter people in the events of our journey.
God and Society
The reading from the Book of Tobit explains how Tobit’s 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.1
Psalm 112 celebrates 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; 111.2
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus responds to a 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 22:15–22.3
Mike Cherney comments that Jesus gives a clever response. He takes a question that seems to have only two possible answers and creates a third response, a response that shifts the focus.
If I was in that crowd, I would have been impressed by and a bit jealous of Jesus’ wit.
My prayer today is a consideration of how I use language.
Dear Lord,
My responses have an impact on other people.
I want to do what is right.
Grant me the wisdom to communicate in ways that do not become tiresome to others.
Help me to avoid limiting myself to only black or white alternatives.
Give me the openness to recognize the diversity of dispositions of those around me.Allow me to put forth the creative possibilities that refocus the direction toward Your will.4
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)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Tobit 2:9-14 notes that this book reveals timeless truths about marriage, family life, and suffering that can strengthen our relationships and guide us as we pray for family members.
So enjoy this lively story! As you do, remember to pray and place your trust in a loving God who knows your struggles and is at work in the middle of them—even when you don’t recognize it! “Lord, I place my family in your hands.”6
Friar Jude Winkler connects the circumstances of the good man, Tobit, to the question addressed in the Book of Job about bad things happening to good people. When the aristocracy and student of the Law conspire to trap Jesus, he responds with cleverness. Friar Jude notes the differing approaches to the State in the New Testament.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that an evolutionary faith understands that nothing is static. The universe unfolds, our understanding of God evolves and deepens, and our moral development surely evolves as well. We simply cannot, as adults, live by the same overly simplistic rules that governed our morality as children. Fr Richard shares the very helpful and clarifying language of Ken Wilber in describing the evolution of moral and spiritual development. Wilber offers four major stages: Cleaning Up, Growing Up, Waking Up, and Showing Up.
In other words, Jesus teaches and embodies a change in consciousness itself. Mature morality is largely a series of religious encounters leading to a deep transformation of consciousness. Any preoccupation with our private moral perfection keeps our eyes on ourselves and not on God or grace or love. Cleaning up is mostly about the need for early impulse control and creating necessary ego boundaries—so you can actually show up in the real and much bigger world.7
As we encounter challenges, we have the Spirit to support our efforts to respond in a mature and clever way.
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