Reflection for Monday August 11 Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin: Matthew 17:22-27

Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27

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.”

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Reflection:

Do you generously give to your church? 

In today’s Gospel, we hear about the payment of the temple tax. Although Jesus and His disciples were exempt from paying it, our Lord still instructed Peter to go and pay the tax. Why? because Jesus wanted to set an example — to willingly contribute to the upkeep of the house of God and to the work done in His name. 

This simple yet profound act of generosity invites us to look within and ask ourselves: How generous am I to my church? Do I give with an open heart during the offertory, not out of obligation, but out of love for God and His people? 

Our giving is not merely about maintaining church buildings and facilities. It is also about supporting the ministers and workers who serve the community and reaching out to the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. 

We may not always see it, but the church quietly and faithfully cares for those in need, often without making any public announcement. This unseen service is sustained by the offerings we place before the Lord. 

When we give generously, we are not losing anything — in fact, we are sowing seeds that will return to us a hundredfold. The blessings that come back may not always be financial. They may come in the form of peace and harmony in our family, good health, protection from harm, and other graces that no amount of money can buy. 

Let us remember: every gift we give to God through His church is a declaration of our trust in Him. And our God is never outdone in generosity. – Marino J. Dasmarinas