November 16, 2011

Reflection (The reading is below, for your reference)

Check out this very fine exegesis on today’s Gospel reading which came from http://kingskidstuff.com/miracles-of-jesus/coin-fish-mouth/

The religious leaders were constantly looking for ways to accuse Jesus. They were jealous of his popularity and afraid that they would lose their power and status. They preferred the praise of associates over a personal relationship with God. When the officials in Capernaum asked Peter if Jesus paid the Temple tax, Peter immediately said he did.

Jesus confronted Peter with an issue that would define his ministry. If Jesus was the Son of God, he was exempt from taxes. But in order to not offend anyone, he sent Peter on a very strange fishing trip to retrieve the Temple tax for both Jesus and Peter.

When Jesus told Peter what to do and Peter acted on Jesus’ words, their faith activated the spiritual realm. God had to make everything happen just as Jesus had said. Only God could have known where a coin was in the Sea of Galilee that would be the exact amount of tax owed. And only God could have commanded a fish that would be ready to retrieve it and deliver to Peter. God miraculously supplied Peter’s needs and God will supply everything you need as well. All God is waiting on is for you to have the faith to believe it is so.

Namaste

The Gospel Reading

Matthew 17:22-27

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands,  and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised." And they were greatly distressed.  When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?"  He said, "Yes, he does." And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?"  When Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the children are free.  However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me."