Gospel: Mk 12:13-17
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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.
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The Gospel narrates how the Pharisees and the Herodians seek to ensnare Jesus as to whether they should pay taxes to Caesar or not. The Pharisees themselves have difficulty using the denarius whose image and inscription uphold Caesar’s deification.
However, their alliance with the Herodians betrays their own enslavement under such graven image. Jesus sees the insincerity of their hearts and unmasks their hypocrisy. Anyone whose deeds are insincere is a slave.
At the end of the day, the question we need to answer is not only about the action we do but also about our sincerity
concerning our action. When we sincerely do our duties and responsibilities for the good of others and not for our self-securing interest, we become truer to our dignity as being
created in the image and likeness
of God.
How sincere are we in the things we do? Do we do things for the good of others or for our self-interest? How true are we to our dignity as being created in
God’s image?
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected];
Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
