Monday of the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Lectio

    Matthew 17:22–27

Meditatio

“… that we may not offend them.…”

    If you’re short on cash, it must be good to go fishing, knowing that your first fly will hook the big one. From this angle, today’s Gospel account seems oddly out of sync with Jesus’ other miracles, a matter of convenience, a self-serving stunt, like turning stones into bread—which Jesus refused to do. Ironically, both occasions offered him a chance to reaffirm his Sonship, for his sake and ours. The Greek word translated as “subjects” is literally “sons,” which Matthew uses to emphasize the Christological meaning of this text. By speaking in the plural, Jesus hints that the word he proclaims is not just about himself. He broadens it to exempt from payment all those born into the kingdom of his Father, children and heirs through the Son, as Paul phrases it (see Rom 8:17).

    By paying under protest, does Jesus cave in to the expectations of the status quo? No more than Mary, his mother, denied the unique circumstances of his birth by submitting to ritual purification, which, like the tax, was required by Jewish law. He will not make a point for others’ benefit, then undo it by “offending” them. Like Matthew’s Christians, Jesus was an observant Jew. Thus, his privileged position as Son is afforded also to those “children” of the Church, born of Israel into the Father’s kingdom.

    This episode is not about levying taxes or demanding royalties, though these have their place. Matthew inserted it here most probably to help his Jewish Christian community honor both of its traditions. In our day, Christians with a Jewish background and those in interfaith marriages can relate to that. Actually, we all can. As subjects of the kingdom we are also sons and daughters of the world. We have requirements to fulfill and expectations to meet there as well. With our various commitments, we frequently straddle diverse worlds. Rather than compartmentalize these, how do we integrate them?

Oratio

    Jesus, the kings of the earth plotted against you, the Lord’s Anointed (see Ps 2:2). You could have stood on your rights as Son. Instead, you chose to give your Church a word of humble love, an example we can follow. Give me your Spirit of wisdom so I can discern how to value and live my convictions, while adapting to our ever-changing times.

Contemplatio

    Father, with your openness of spirit, may I live my anointing as your daughter (son).

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ORDINARY GRACE Weeks 18–34: Daily Gospel Reflections (By the Daughters of St. Paul)