MONDAY AUGUST 12, 2024
MONDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
Ss Jane Frances De Chantal, Rel. (Opt. Mem.)
Ezekiel 1:2-5.24-28
Matthew 17:22-27
A CHRISTIAN CREATED FOR THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD
Christian who accept their faith and life should be able to understand how and what Christ designed for us as people not of the world but created and commission as missionaries to the world. As missionaries to the world, the basic relationship and duties assigned us must be well understood and internalized. Today’s gospel brings out our duties and our relationship to the world.
Jesus and his disciples were questioned on their responsibility to pay temple tax and fulfill their required duty to the civil authorities of his time. Jesus conceded that as sons of the kingdom they should have been excluded from such responsibilities but as strangers or foreigners there were supposed to and in fact mandated to pay these dues. But in order not to give offense to Jewish authorities, he gave orders to Peter to go get the half shekel and pay. Meaning that they had assumed the conditions and status of strangers in the world.
As strangers in the world, meaning that we are in transition, that the world is not our final habitation, and we must see this as such. Hence we must contribute willingly and meaningfully to the maintenance and the wellbeing of the world. Our civil responsibilities must be attended to squarely. We must pay our taxes, contribute to the good ordering of the world, obey the laws of the land, maintain order and decorum as expected of us in the world.
Good Christians make good citizens and never fight the world, rather enhances it. During elections, we must not stand aloof but we must be active participants by registering to vote and exercising our franchise by voting as required by our conscience and the law. No excuses must be given for failing to vote and be voted. Because failure to vote or to be voted for is even sinful and evil to the wellbeing of our world. The Church also encourages us to be active participants by joining political parties and taking active part in the electioneering with the right and good Christian spirit and practice. We must maintain the ethical standards expected of us as Christians in this regard. No acceptance of bribe or sharing of money to exercise our civic duties.
So our relationship with the world is not to be isolated or insulate from the world, but rather contributing to its wellbeing and prosperity as law abiding citizens.
Heavenly Father, you created us to be blessings to our world. Grant that we may contribute positively to the betterment of our world by fulfilling our tasks well, supporting and paying our taxes and dues, participating in bringing happiness, good ordering and prosperity to lives in our world. May our work bring us eternal rewards of peace of heart, protection from every evil and grace to overcome the tensions in our world through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
