Readings: Tobit 2:9-14-3:1; Psalm 112; Mark 12:13-17
Our first reading is from the Book of Tobit, a Book given to us for instruction. Today's passage answers the question, “Does God reward the righteous or not?” It seems that even back then no good deed went unpunished. Tobit's wife did a good thing and Tobit does not believe her that the goat is a reward for her good deed. Tobit is indeed righteous but to the extreme and he does not believe his wife. We must trust in God's love for us: He only wants us to do good deeds. Boy, that would be a nice world if each one of us only does good. That would end all conflicts.
In the Gospel for today, the enemies of Jesus try to trick Him into saying something he can be accused of. The people of this time hated the Romans and had to pay a tax to them, hence the job of St. Matthew before he left it to follow Jesus and then to write the Gospel which we read on many Sundays. Jesus’ answer is simple and clever at the same time. "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
As we begin these summer months let us enjoy what God gives us and let us continue to thank Him for all he gives us. Let us pray that we can return to Church on Sundays and once again give to God what is his and thank Him for all he gives us each day. Take care and God bless. Fr. Tom