Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.”
Duties and Devotions
1. Catholic Social Teaching. Through Pope Leo XIII, the Church showed its commitment to walking alongside humanity. This led to a movement aimed at helping people in the modern world, guided by the Gospel. It’s about bringing God’s Word to life in today’s world and offering the hope that saves this divided and even corrupted society. That’s why there’s a focus on helping people encounter God in their daily lives, God is with you in your activities. While I’m working or doing things, I can also talk with God, share with God, and live in God.
2. Setting an example. Yes, as Christians, we should be exemplary citizens, because there’s a big difference between being a resident and a citizen. Residents simply inhabit a place, but they don’t commit to it. Citizens, however, commit to society and work for its betterment. You don’t need to get involved in politics to do this. You can start with a simple act like not littering on the street or cleaning the sidewalk in front of your house instead of leaving it for your neighbor to do. Your Christian life gains an extra point there because you’re setting an example both as a Christian and a citizen.
3. What belongs to everyone belongs to no one. It’s a sad reality, but our society is deeply individualistic. What belongs to everyone is often treated as if it belongs to no one, yet what’s yours is fiercely guarded as your own. For example, a public park belongs to everyone but just look at how it’s covered in graffiti or trash. Why don’t we take care of it if it’s for everyone? On the other hand, many people meticulously maintain the sidewalk in front of their own homes to keep their property looking good. To grow as a society, we need to start caring for what belongs to all of us. What commitment will you make today to work for your city as a citizen?
Always remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
