Tuesday 6 June 2023

Today is Tuesday the 6th of June, in the ninth week of Ordinary time.

Paul Zach and Leslie Jordan sing, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.


Mark 12:13-17


Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.’ And they brought one. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him.

“Should we pay these taxes or not?” It’s a clever trap! What are the dangers if Jesus says, “Yes, pay them”? And if he says, “No, don’t pay”?

What are “the things that are the emperor’s”, the things that may legitimately be owed to the state, today? And what are “the things that are God’s”?

At the end of the passage, the questioners “were utterly amazed by him”. Why? And what difference might this make, to some of them at least?

As the passage is read again, notice the good and true qualities that even the hostile questioners appear to recognise in Jesus.

Speak to God now about what it is that you might be called to give him, or that you want to give him.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.