Homily: August 12, 2024, Monday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary time (No privilages)

 “Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

Isn’t this cool?

This is another one of the four miracles Jesus performed which directly involved nature. It is interesting and perplexing at the same time.

It is quite obvious that both Peter and Jesus did not have enough money to pay the temple tax. However, by virtue of His divine status, Jesus should not need to pay the tax. Yet, not wanting to claim the benefits of His privilege and not wanting to create unnecessary trouble, He exercised His divine authority and power to provide for the need.

More worthy to note is that the amount brought forth by the miracle is just enough to pay for the temple tax for both Peter and Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less.

Recently, I chanced upon a YouTube video about the former president of Uruguay, José Mujica. He was known as the poorest president. He declined all privileges of his presidency, including his pension and a private jet. He lived in a tiny house on a farm, instead of the presidential palace. During his presidency, he worked hard to reduce unemployment in his country, and gave away 90% of his salary.

Such people are rare. We live in a world where people often seek privileges and benefits accrued to their rights and statuses, they expect special considerations, and demand changes in circumstances to bend in their favor.

For a president to live humbly, without claiming even the basic privilege, is inspiring.

For the Son of God to live poorer than the common folks, without clinging to His Godly status, is more than inspirational, itself is the essence of His divinity.

Jesus is God - the very God whom we worship at the temple. Jesus could have argued that, as God, He did not need to pay the temple tax. But here, we see Jesus’s humility, and His divinity shines forth.

St. Paul described this humble but powerful divinity of Jesus: "Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross."

Do we cling on to our statuses and demand to receive the full measure of our privileges?

Or do we empty our pride and ego, and be open to receive the full measure of God’s spiritual blessings – which might come in the form of a cross, pain or suffering?

The more we empty ourselves, the more we live free. I love these lines from the Litany of Humility:

From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being honored,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

Amen.


Comments

Read

Homily: January 5, 2024; Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord (Kneel and Bow)

Homily: January 4, 2025, Feast of Elizabeth Ann Seton (Come and See)

Homily: December 31,2024, The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas (Truth)

Homily: January 7, 2024, Tuesday after Epiphany (Eat be Satisfied)

Homilía: Marzo 24, 2022, Jueves de la III semana de Cuaresma.

Homily: December, 22,2024, Fourth Sunday in Advent (Mother- Peace)

Homily: August 20, 2022, Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Christmas Homily 2021,

Homily: December 28, 2024 Feast of the Holy Innocents (Suffering).

Homilía: Julio 17, 2022, XVI Domingo Ordinario