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My sister Janet
at Saint Paul Church Picnic |
jesus asked him, "what is your opinion, simon?
from whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
from their subjects or from foreigners?"
when he said, "from foreigners," jesus said to him,
"then the subjects are exempt.
If the biblical world had armies, money, taxes and complicated politics, can it be very different from our own? If people were continually looking for ways to avoid paying taxes, it sounds entirely too familiar.
Actually, there has been at least one experimental system of paying no taxes, albeit unsuccessful. Citizens of communist nations were exempt. Since everything belonged to the State, the government could move resources around from one department to the other -- from manufacturing to road building to utilities to farming and so forth -- without troubling the citizens. They were given every penny they earned and, for the most part, they only earned pennies. Meanwhile, as in capitalist nations, one percent of the comrades consumed half the wealth.
In today's Gospel, the question is posed to Simon about his rabbi Jesus, "Does he pay the temple tax?" It seems that the Son of God should not have to pay a tax on his own temple! He is the Lord of the Temple, after all. His own father and mother carried him triumphantly into the temple when he was but a child; and the poor anawim Simeon and Anna welcomed him with great joy.
But, like many wise people, Jesus chooses his own battles and this is one he will not fight. He has chosen to be among the meek and humble of the earth, the least of all and the servant of all. He has also chosen to rely totally on God's providence. Faith assures him he cannot fail in his mission and so he directs Saint Peter to take a few minutes out and go fishing. "Find a coin in the fish's mouth and use that to pay the tax for you and me."
Now what are the odd? True some fish, like crows, adorn their watery nests with shiny objects but still....
Saint Matthew doesn't tell us whether Peter actually paid the tax with the fish's coin but the message is clear: the subjects are exempt. If we're not exempt from paying taxes we are exempt from worrying about them. Our world is not so different from the Biblical world, and the same God who provided for Jesus provides for us because we live continually within his Spirit and under his obedience.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.