Every Coin Has Two Sides

Tobit 2:9-14
Mark 12:13-17

The story of Tobit in today’s first reading echoes the psalm of today: “An evil report he shall not fear, the heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.”
It is not surprising to see that those who are suppose to care about us are the ones haunting us. The one who is suppose to be there for you is against you. Tobit was angry with the wife and rejected the goat given to his wife as a gift for her good work in weaving cloth. He just could not accept the offer and So she retorted: “Where are your charitable deeds now?
Where are your virtuous acts?
See! Your true character is finally showing itself!”A life of misery is usually the lot of those who are united in marriage. O for such love that Jesus comes to purify so that, like Him, we may be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.

In today’s gospel, we see those conniving Pharisees coming together and planning how to put Jesus to the test. No one can trick God! First they sent some of them to Jesus with some of the Herodians and started by saying , “Teacher, we know you are truthful man…they added, ‘you do not regard a person’s status’….but teach the way of God according to the truth’ and finally is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?The Romans who ruled them at that time, ran a European military superstate. Caesar ruled as Emperor over the whole continent; Roman laws and taxes were enforced by a well-organized network of administrators backed up by a loyal and, if necessary, ruthless military machine. Pontius Pilate, the Governor of Judaea, lived in a world where “Kingdom” meant the force of power. So for them, if He says that taxes should be paid to Caesar, then He is their enemy, and if He says No, then He is an enemy of the state. He on His own asked them for a coin, and there was one offered with the face of Caesar. He then said to them;” Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

This is a powerful message for us to ponder upon, We have two sides to the coin. What do you invest in? Where do I place myself for myself or for God? Our gifts, our treasures, and talents do we act upon them as gifts from God or for vainglory? Where do you direct your values towards? Do we glorify God or glory ourselves? May we continue to remain precious in the Lord’s sight and may He grants us the gift of eternal life. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho