Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

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Gospel
Mark 12:13-17

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent
to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.
They came and said to him,
"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you are not concerned with anyone's opinion.
You do not regard a person's status
but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?
Should we pay or should we not pay?"
Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them,
"Why are you testing me?
Bring me a denarius to look at."
They brought one to him and he said to them,
"Whose image and inscription is this?"
They replied to him, "Caesar's."
So Jesus said to them,
"Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
They were utterly amazed at him.

Reflection

There's always been a temptation to separate the spiritual life from the life in the world and what Jesus is saying so clearly, we have a responsibility to be attentive to all that God needs from us in order to fulfill His plan. And we need to support all the things of the world that are there to make the world better.

We have a responsibility both to our spiritual life and to the life we share together in the material world.

Let us pray

Father, we know that you call us to be in the world, but not caught up in the corruption of the world. But we have a responsibility to free the world from its shadow, from its darkness. We have that responsibility. And we ask your grace and we ask your wisdom and your patience. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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