Sunday August 8th: Take and eat
August 8, 2021
A Floral artist who seeks inspiration from God
August 9, 2021

Monday August 9th: So as not to offend these people

‘…Take it and give it to them for me and yourself.’

Matthew 17: 22-27

In today’s reading we have the story of Jesus instructing Peter to pay the Temple tax. Jesus accepted this law although he thought that it was unfair. As a Jew, not a foreigner, he thought that he should be exempt and not have to pay. This was the law, however, and Jesus decided to obey.

This puts us in mind of Jesus’ astute reply to the Pharisees: Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.
These two stories show us Jesus obeying the law even if he does not agree with it. The important thing is that it was not a law that asked us to commit sin. We learn from this that sometimes we may disagree with the law, whether it be Civil or Church law, but we should obey.

We may disagree with the Pope, our bishop, priests or even our parents and teachers but we should obey them in all that is not sin.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash