Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the 19th week in ordinary time, August 11, 2025, Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

Delivered by Randy from the Parish of Christ the King in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Deuteronomy 10: 12-22; Rs psalm 147: 12-13.14-15.19-20; Matthew 17: 22-27.JESUS ​​TEACHES US TO PAY TAXES The title for our meditation today is:Jesus Teaches Us To Pay Taxes. There was a discussion in a group of mothersabout the obligation to pay taxes. They are in the same situation with thecurrent state governments in the world who are working hard to increase publictax revenues to strengthen the development of their countries. Those who betterunderstand tax explained it to those who have poor understanding about payingtaxes. The discussion became a littleprolonged when a mother asked about the teaching or command of the Lord Jesusabout tax obligations. Based on the command of the Lord, she believes that thetax obligations for the state will be more easily implemented. An elderlymother gave an answer, which was referring to Jesus' command to Peter to paytaxes, in which He and Peter were legal subjects for paying taxes that wasprotected by the state. Every country in the world depends ontaxes. The tax revenues are used to finance state administration, education andhealth care for the public and society. This was done by Moses when leading thepeople of Israel. He emphasized that all the goodness and mercy of God they hadobtained from time to time, they were required to give a sense of fairness totheir fellow poor people namely widows, orphans and strangers. There are at least two things to beour lessons from the proclamation of the gospel of today. First, the obligationto pay taxes is based on work that one does in the society, which bringsbenefits, and which is related to the involvement of other members of thesociety. Jesus and His apostles realized that this was very evident withregards to His public services, so His work was the object of taxation in thesociety. Jesus told Peter to take money and then paid taxes for both of them. Second, because of many publicservices, Jesus and His apostles were considered special and then becamepopular. People regarded them as teachers and public figures, thus, they had tobecome models in paying taxes. Jesus did this so as not to become a scandal formany people. The one who is important in the society and considered as publicfigure should be the example of doing good, that is paying taxes. So it's notwords, appeals or lots of advice to pay taxes, but the actual act of payingitself is a model for many people. May we grow in the awareness of all ourobligations to give to our nation and society. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... In your hands, Father, we want to put our life on this day, so thatwe may contribute to a peaceful and mutual relationship between us yourchildren. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In thename of the Father ...