FIRST READING
“Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel1:2-5.24-28c)
On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldean by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness round about it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming bronze. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the form of men. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of a host; when they stood still, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the firmament over their heads; when they stood still, they let down their wings. And above the firmament over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness as it were of a human form. And upward from what had the appearance of his loins I saw as it were gleaming bronze, like the appearance of fire enclosed round about; and downward from what had the appearance of his loins I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 148: 1-2. 11-12.13.14
R/. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Or: Alleluia
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts. R/.
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,
young men and maidens as well,
the old together with the young. R/.
R/. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Or: Alleluia
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted,
his splendour above heaven and earth. R/.
He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his faithful,
the praise of the children of Israel,
of the people to whom he is close. R/.
ALLELUIA 2 Thessalonians 2:14
Alleluia. God has called us through the Gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
They will kill him, and he will be raised. The sons are free from tribute.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 17:22-27)
At that time: As the disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed. When they came to Capernaiun, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offence to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
As Christians living in this world, we have civic rights, duties and responsibilities that we need to fulfil; payment of taxes is one of our duties as citizens of a particular nation. Jesus fulfills they duty of paying the temple tax for Himself and for Peter. He uses this opportunity to teach us the fulfilment of our duties as good citizens of our nation; we need to contribute to the wellbeing of the places where we live, study and work. Paying of taxes, sincere exercising of our franchise, obeying rules of law and order are marks of being good citizens. The Lord teaches a great lesson of submission to legitimate temporal authority that does not supplant divine authority.