Word to the Wise
Monday, August 14, 2023 - Monday in the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
[Deut 10:12-22 and Matt 17:22-27,1037]When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?" [Matthew]
AUGUST 14 ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE ofm conv.
The story of the temple tax and the fish with the tax money in its mouth appears only in the Gospel According to Matthew and intended for his audience of Jewish-Christians. The tax was levied on Jews by the temple authorities to help pay for the upkeep of the temple. The issue was (prior to the destruction of the temple in 70AD) whether or not formerly-Jewish Christians should continue to pay the tax. Jesus' response, in theological principle, they shouldn't have to pay, but they should be sensitive to the feelings of their Jewish brothers and sisters: "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."
A simple lesson, at least, can be drawn from this. There are times when we do not consider ourselves obliged to respond to a request which others think we ARE obliged to. It may be an act of charity to respond in kindness in order not to offend them. I know there are a lot of "What if's...." one can raise, but the idea is the same. We need not tell the person asking to "Go fish!" My own pastoral experience is full of memories about situations like this: "I don't really have to do this, but I'll do it anyway out of kindness and generosity." In the long run, great things can happen. AMEN