How we often overlook the majestic splendour of God our Father. In His creation, in nature, in the very crisp morning air that we breathe perfumed by flowers or even the rain. The variety of colours that fill our day or the glitter of the stars at night. Do we take all these for granted? Do we not remember His great love for us in which He sent His only begotten Son to us?
O sweet Jesus You Who are King of kings subjected Yourself to men, to be killed so that we might live. You showed us great love by paying a debt You did not owe. For us who owed a debt we could not pay. O Lord our God! Let us unite all our sacrifices of love for You and for one another together with Your ultimate sacrifice once for all; forever and ever. Amen
FIRST READING
Ezekiel 1:2–5, 24–28c
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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