10 September 2011: The Didrachma

The Gospel mentions only one act of our Lord during his last visit to Capharnaum. “... the Temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, ‘Does your Master pay the didrachmas?’ He said, ‘Certainly’.
“When he came into the house, Jesus immediately asked him, ‘What do you think, Simon? Who pay taxes or tributes to the kings of the earth: their sons or the foreigners?’ Peter replied, ‘The foreigners’. Jesus told him, ‘The sons, then are tax-exempt’.” (Mt 17:24-6)
Undoubtedly, this title exempted Jesus from all tribute to earthly kings. His exemption rested on fact.
In seeking dispensation from work or penance, does it rest on valid reasons? Age, health, business, seniority, merit, great services. Self-deception, self-love, idleness, tepidity can creep into the claim for privilege. Thus, we must rigidly scrutinize our motives.
Though Jesus need not pay the tribute, he paid to avoid giving scandal to the people, still ignorant of his right of exemption as the Son of God; but he paid it, so to speak, as God, by a striking miracle.
He said to Peter, “Go to the sea and cast a hook; open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find a coin in it. Take that and give it to them for me and for you.” (Mt 17:27) By this command he severely tested the Apostle’s obedience. It stood the trial and gained the reward. What do we learn from this?
First, never to block our neighbor’s way, although in so doing we commit no sin. Second, not to ask ourself, when an opportunity of doing good is presented to us, ‘Am I obliged to do this?’ It would be a bad turn for the generosity which God daily shows us.
Third, not to criticize, but to love, in all humility the wonderful ways in which God sometimes pleases to manifest his good pleasure.
Fourth, blind obedience.
The tribute was demanded of Jesus only as head of the College of Apostles. Still, he wished Peter to pay it, too. Why did he make this distinction, which in some degree raised the Apostle to the level of his Master?
Commentators believe that it signified to Peter confirmation of the primacy which had been given him. This fresh proof of love which Jesus gave St Peter was the reward of his faith and obedience.
Let us strive to deserve the love of our Lord and Saviour. Congratulate St Peter on the exalted rank to which he was raised. It was for our welfare that this was done.
It is to the supremacy of St Peter and of his successors that we owe the unbroken unity of the faith, and the continuing vigor of the Church, our mother, to whom we owe all that is good, natural or supernatural.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp573-5

Freedom and Responsibility in Secular Affairs
The doctrine of Christ lies above any political option. In the exercise of their legitimate freedom, the faithful may propose a certain solution to a given problem or situation. And yet, as the Second Vatican Council teaches, ‘they ought to remember that in those cases, no one is permitted to identify the authority of the Church with his own opinion’.
Jesus did not wish to be a political Messiah who would dominate by force but preferred to call himself the Son of Man who came to serve and “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). He recognized civil authority and its rights when he ordered tribute to be paid to Caesar, but also gave clear warning that the higher rights of God must be respected.
It would be foolish to expect the public lives of all Catholics to conform to a single pattern and to expect them to have identical opinions and preferences.
Ref: Cf Fr M Guzman, “Encounters with Christ”, 1990, pp133-5

To be exemplary citizens
To imitate Our Lord we should be good citizens who fulfil their duties at work, in the family and in society. Paying fair taxes, voting according to our conscience and participating in public services are some of these duties. We might ask ourselves in our prayer whether we are known to punctually fulfil our duties, are good neighbors, exemplary at work, etc.
Good Christians cannot be bad citizens. Mistaken are they who affirm “we have no home here and look only to the future” (cf Heb 13:14); thus, are careless about their temporal affairs. They do not realize their faith obliges them to fulfil duties with perfection, according to their personal calling. (Second Vatican Council, Constitution, “Gaudium et spes”, 42)
As Christians who are called to be saints in the middle of the world, we should always maintain “the nobility and moral dignity of social and political commitments, and the great opportunities they offer to grow in faith, in hope, in love; and in fortitude, in detachment and generosity. When these social and political commitments are lived with a Christian spirit, they become a strenuous school of perfection and a demanding means of living the virtues.” (Spanish Episcopal Conference, “Catholics in Public Life”, 22 April 1986, 60, 63)
Christians who are exemplary citizens can show to many the way to Christ. Nowadays, “a new and unformed mass has arisen in lands of old Christian heritage, while the world, in all its breadth, is a field of apostolic action that should reach all men, a task to which all Christians are committed. Today, the church and all of her children are enrolled in a mission, and the leaven should now exercise her renewing function.” (J Orlandis, “The Christian vocation of the man of today”, Madrid, 1973)
This is possible because we are full-fledged citizens, with rights to exercise and duties to fulfil, and desire to face up to the difficulties that life entails.
We ask the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, to take us by the hand since we are her little children. For a greater care when our age or experience require her guidance.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:352; 354-6; 388

• Our Lady of Trut, near Cologne. This church was built under Otho I by St Heribert, Archbishop of Cologne, on the very spot where idols bad been formerly worshipped. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Trut built by St Heribert near Cologne, 10th Century. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Trut, the Shrine near Cologne, Germany, built by St Heribert (10th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Trut (near Cologne). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of China. (“The 2002 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p103)