In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. — Psalm 90:1
Mass Readings: 2 Peter 3:12-15,17-18 / Mark 12:13-17
When my six children were very young, no matter where we went together someone always stared at my blue-eyed sons with blonde hair and my dark-skinned, brunette daughters. Inevitably, overconfident strangers assumed I was “babysitting.” After all, children with such different physical characteristics couldn’t possibly be siblings, could they?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about paying taxes by explaining that whatever belongs to a physical king should be repaid to him but whatever belongs to the spiritual king must be returned to Him. Is Jesus really discussing money? Or is He pointing out that the Pharisees and Herodians pledging allegiance to Caesar are incapable of looking beyond the physical toward heaven? It’s our love for each other — not our blood — that makes us true brothers and sisters.
Prayer: Jesus, my Brother, I belong to You. I give You myself and my love.