Reflection for June 2 Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:13-17

Gospel: Mark 12:13-17

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at. They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this? They replied to him, “Caesar’s. So Jesus said to them “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. They were utterly amazed at him.

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Reflection:

Do we always do what is right and just?

The Pharisees and the Herodians tested Jesus regarding the just payment of taxes to Caesar. Knowing their evil intentions, Jesus simply asked them, “Whose image is on the coin?” They answered that it bore Caesar’s image.

Jesus then told them to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar because he was the governing authority. More importantly, He said, “Give to God what belongs to God” (Mark 12:17). This leads us to an important question: What belongs to God? What is due to Him from us?

What belongs to God is the time that we freely and lovingly offer to Him. We give Him our daily moments of prayer when we wake up in the morning and before we retire at night. We give Him our worship and thanksgiving when we participate in Holy Mass on Sundays. We also give Him our acts of service, kindness, generosity, and commitment to the Church and to our brothers and sisters in need.

Everything we have comes from God. Our life, our talents, our blessings, our opportunities, and even the very breath we take each day are gifts from His loving hands. Therefore, it is only right and just that we give back to Him our love, gratitude, trust, and faithful obedience.

At times, we may think that giving our time and attention to God is a sacrifice. Yet when we give God what is due to Him, we never become poorer. Instead, He fills our hearts with His peace, strengthens us in our struggles, guides us through life's uncertainties, and assures us of His loving presence. Most importantly, He gives us the hope of eternal life with Him when our earthly journey comes to an end.

Let us examine our hearts. Are we merely giving God what is left over after everything else has claimed our time and attention, or are we truly giving Him what rightfully belongs to Him—our wholehearted love, faithful worship, and willing obedience?

May we have the courage to give to God not only a portion of our lives but our very selves. For if everything we are and everything we have comes from Him, are we truly giving back to God what belongs to God?

What is one area of our life that we have been withholding from God, and are we willing to surrender it to Him so that He may reign more fully in our hearts?—Marino J. Dasmarinas