Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 2, 2020
Some Pharisees and some Herodians were sent to trap Jesus in what he said. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”
But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” And they brought one.
Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”
Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
So many words could be written about this passage from Mark’s Gospel, but one thing stands out to me today: Jesus’ decision to respond to the Pharisees and Herodians despite their malice.
Mark makes it clear—Jesus knows that his audience is trying to trap him with their question about paying taxes. A “yes” from Jesus would offend many of the Jews, who in general chafed against Roman rule. A “no” from Jesus would arouse the suspicions of the Roman authorities, ever vigilant against rebels. Either way, the Pharisees and Herodians are trying to create problems for Jesus. Yet, “knowing their hypocrisy,” their insincerity, and their ill will, Jesus still chooses to reply.
Had I been in the Lord’s position, I would have walked away from the whole situation and left them in their malice. But the love of our Lord is not like that (and this is certainly good news for us). His love does not leave us in our malice—his love reaches beyond it. The Lord does not turn away as I would, but responds.
First, he acknowledges the wrongdoing of the Pharisees and Herodians (“Why are you testing me?”), and immediately begins to work with them to reach a resolution—he sends them to fetch a coin, he asks them a question. In the end, he reveals the truest answer to their question, which happens to be neither of the answers they anticipated (isn’t it often like this with the Lord?). And they are amazed.
We, too, should be amazed by our Lord Jesus! For he will never sigh and turn away when we fall into sin. Instead, in the tenderness of his love, he will work with us and for us. Such love as this has the power to transform any trap, to reach past any malice, and to cure any ill will.
Prayer
Lord, just as in the days of Jesus, we are pressured today by our society to compartmentalize and personalize our faith, to leave it out of the public sphere. Give us the courage and the love to live out our Catholic faith boldly, having it inform the way we live, vote and govern, so while repaying to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, we may always repay to God what belongs to God. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Sts. Peter and Marcellinus were both martyrs from the early Church who are still honored today in the Eucharistic prayer that we offer at Mass.
Marcellinus was a well-known priest, and Peter was an exorcist—they lived during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Diocletian at the start of the fourth century. They were arrested and jailed for being Christians.
In prison, they continued to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, which converted some of the prisoners, and even their guard (along with his wife and daughter). They were condemned to death by beheading, and were killed and buried in an unmarked place in the forest so that the Christian community could not honor their remains. Their executioner, who later became Christian himself, told of their location, however, and their bodies were found and placed in the catacombs.
Pope St. Damasus heard the story of their death from this executioner, and created an inscription for their tombs. Later, Constantine built a basilica over their remains—it is where his mother, St. Helen, was buried. These two saints are honored in the Eucharistic prayer, and there is strong evidence that they were very important saints for the early Christian Church.
The bodies of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter were moved at several points through the ages, and ended up in a monastery in Germany. Relics of the martyr, St. Peter, also rest in the Basilica in the reliquary chapel.
Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, your imprisonment and death sentence did not dampen your zeal—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter is in the public domain. Modified from the original. Last accessed March 18, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
