A reading from the gospel according to Matthew 17:22-27

22 As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, 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?”
26 When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt.
27 But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

Reflection: Overwhelmed with grief

Good News: Jesus will be raised on the third day.

When Jesus reminded His apostles of His death and resurrection, they were overwhelmed with grief.

Jesus knew His mission very clearly. He came to live and to die for us. But His life will not end in death. On the third day, He will rise again. The disciples did not fully understand that this will happen to their master, Lord and King. It was very hard for them to accept that the Messiah was going to suffer.

This passage reminds us that our own life will not end in death. If we live in Christ then we shall also rise with Him. We may be undergoing great trials and tribulations but if we entrust all of them to the Lord who already suffered for us, then we will find meaning in our life. Unlike the disciples of Jesus, we are not overwhelmed with grief in spite of all the problems around us. Thanks to the empty tomb, we know Christ has already triumphed over suffering and death.

On the other hand, just as Jesus reminded His disciples of His impending arrest and death, He is also reminding us of our own death, that our life is short and that we should value every minute that we are breathing. This reminder should make us even more grateful for the gift of life.

*****

When Jesus mentioned his impending suffering and death, His disciples were “overwhelmed with grief”. Their feeling is understandable. Who would like to see a loved one suffer and die? Yet, they would understand later after the resurrection. As modern day followers, we are privileged to know that Jesus did not not suffer and die in vain.

Jesus is our King who suffered and died for our sake. His life was offered for the ransom of many. We are His subjects but do we pay “taxes” to Him in the form of tithes? We find ways to pay taxes to earthly kings and rulers but many times we find ways to avoid giving tithes to our church or community. The government does spend our taxes for our benefit yet we often forget that God grants us benefits a thousand times more than what the government offers. Let that sink in. God is more generous than we can ever imagine.

*****

This Gospel passage, though seemingly worldly in its discussion of tax, carries profound implications about faith, provision, and our identity in Christ.

Firstly, Jesus subtly reveals His divine identity and authority. By questioning Peter about the nature of earthly kings and their children, He implies that as the Son of God, He is exempt from such earthly obligations. Yet, to avoid unnecessary offense and to fulfill all righteousness, He chooses to comply. This teaches us about the humility of Christ and His willingness to engage in human affairs for the sake of peace.

Secondly, the miraculous provision of the temple tax from the mouth of a fish illustrates God’s sovereignty and care for our needs. In a situation where there seemed to be no immediate solution, Jesus instructs Peter to do something as simple as fishing. Through this ordinary act, an extraordinary provision is made. This encourages us to trust that God is aware of our needs and is capable of meeting them in unexpected ways. It is a reminder that no matter how mundane our tasks may seem, God can use them for His miraculous purposes.

Moreover, this passage speaks to our identity as children of God. Just as earthly kings do not require their children to pay taxes, we, as God’s children, are not bound by the world’s systems in the same way. Our primary allegiance is to God’s kingdom. Yet, we live in this world and must navigate its demands with wisdom and grace, just as Jesus demonstrated.

Let us therefore draw inspiration from this passage to live with a profound trust in God’s provision, a clear understanding of our identity in Christ, and a commitment to humility and peace. In every challenge and mundane task, may we see the potential for God’s extraordinary work and remain confident in His loving care for us.