As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
And they were overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“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?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,
“Then the subjects are exempt.
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.” MT 17:22-27
As I ask in the Holy Spirit, I invite the Holy Spirit (which we can all do and is always encouraged!) and invite the Lord in my heart. I always invite the Holy Intercession of the Holy Family over us all, the Saints and all Nine Choirs of Angels led by St. Michael, to pray over us as we read, and for all families of the Lord – which is all in the world!
Jesus is revealing to His Disciples of His Bitter Passion, which would grieve anyone to hear. The disciples, who were accompanying the Lord were grieved in this revealing from the Lord Himself. As they arrive in Capernaum, Peter is approached to ask Jesus to pay the temple tax; a tax that was owed by foreigners, as subjects were not bound by the laws applied to foreigners.
Jesus knows why Peter is coming to Him.
[Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. MT 6:8]
It is Jesus who begins the conversation with,” What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?” Peter replies, “from Foreigners.”
Jesus states,” “Then the subjects are exempt.
[Jesus and His disciples belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. Ref. NAB footnote]
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.”
Jesus reveals His Divine Authority, that the Divine Authority of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is more than able to provide for all our needs- we are just asked to Trust in Him . Yet, through this Divine Miracle- which all miracles reveal the Glory of the Lord- Jesus is revealing a few Moral and Eternal Revelations. Jesus, who is the True Son of God is being asked to pay the Temple Tax, which is a tax for the upkeep of the Temple. Yet, it is His Father in Heaven is who is worshipped in the Temple, therefore the True Son of God the Father is exempt from paying the Temple Tax, as well as His subjects- which is revealed in His Word;
“Then the subjects are exempt”
Jesus says: “But that we may not offend them….”
Jesus did not cry out on the streets that He was the Son of God, He willingly paid the Temple Tax as the next line that Jesus says to Peter is to:
”… 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.”
This is an actual Divine Miracle that we should sing Praise to God for! For the fish that was provided, was just as Jesus told to Peter. As Peter acted on the Word of the Lord, it was done just as Jesus revealed it would be!
Jesus is Lord! As Jesus is calling us all to act on His Word, we too, share in His Inheritance, in the Eternal Kingdom of God. It is Jesus who, has offered Himself blameless for all to be able to share in His Eternal Inheritance in the Heavenly Kingdom. Jesus alone had the Authority to lay His Life for us all, and raise it, which is the Eternal Revelation here, is that Jesus came for us all. His Resurrection, as the final Sacrifice, paying our own debts before the Heavenly Father are more than paid for!
Peter, who represents the Church (which is all of us) as the first Pope [And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” MT 16:18-19], and as Jesus has revealed that even as the subjects of this earthly kingdom are “exempt” from paying the tax, it is the Lord, who has offered Himself blameless to the Heavenly Father, whose Blood became the final sacrifice for all in the world and in every age- and placed in the Holy of all Holies, in the Heavenly Kingdom so that all may live!
When we turn to the Lord with a contrite heart, asking the Lord to forgive us our own debts (our sins), it is His Blood that has been placed in the Holy of all Holies, in Heaven, and through His Bitter Passion, has paid the price for all in the world.
As we turn to Jesus, remembering that it is He who has offered Himself for all in the world, we can all turn to Jesus, lifting our hearts to the Lord in love and Holy Adoration, Adoring the Divine Savior, who has come so that we all may live.
As I am also guided in my heart to add, Jesus knew why Peter was coming to Him, which is something we can all understand! Jesus understands us, knows why we come to Him and welcomes us to Him! Trusting in the Lord’s Word, Peter immediately acted upon the Lord’s Word, which is also something we are all called to do. For when we do, it is our Heavenly Treasure that is stored, and the Eternal Promises contained in the Lord’s Word, are eternally given for every person in the world and in every age. Sharing the Lord’s Word, shares in the inheritance of the “subjects” of the Heavenly Kingdom, the sons and daughters of God, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ!
*Spend time in the Lord’s Presence, in Holy Adoration, or in prayer, praising the Lord Jesus Christ for all He has done, and as we do, we can give thanks for His Hearing, placing all concerns, every family member and all in the world, into His Sacred and Holy Heart. For we are already there!”
***Every Gospel Reflection will always contain an invitation to the Eternal Banquet, as we come to Catholic Mass, all are invited to inquire of and receive the Sacraments, to receive the Graces God Divinely Provides for us all, in the Heavenly Banquet of the Lord! Holy Communion is consecrated through the Holy Spirit of the Lord, and all are invited! As we come to Mass, and partake of the Heavenly Banquet of the Lord, the eternal rewards surpass any peace we have on earth!
This I have received in the Holy Spirit to invite all who read to the Heavenly Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Welcome to all from Angel Love Blessings! 