June 3, St. Charles Lwanga and companions 

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

Give God All Glory

Some Pharisees and Herodians think they have Jesus on the horns of a dilemma. If He says Jews ought to pay taxes to the Romans, the crowd will think less of Him; if He advocates not paying the tax, the Romans will arrest Him. The coin in today's Gospel reading, a Roman denarius, would have born the image of Emperor Tiberius. Jesus avoids the trap by saying, ''Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.'' This is not an ''even split.'' All creation (even Caesar) belongs to God.

In the 1880s, King Mwanga of Uganda demanded devotion to himself ahead of devotion to God. Charles Lwanga and his companions chose to give their very lives to Christ rather than submit to the king's demands.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to love You above all else.