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Today, 6th of December, we celebrate
Saint Nicholas
First Reading: Ezk 1:2-5, 24-28
On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year,
that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile,
The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel,
the son of Buzi,
in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.—
There the hand of the LORD came upon me.
As I looked, a stormwind came from the North,
a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,
from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)
something gleamed like electrum.
Within it were figures resembling four living creatures
that looked like this: their form was human.
Then I heard the sound of their wings,
like the roaring of mighty waters,
like the voice of the Almighty.
When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.
And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Above the firmament over their heads
something like a throne could be seen,
looking like sapphire.
Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;
downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;
he was surrounded with splendor.
Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day
was the splendor that surrounded him.
Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 148:1-2,11-12,13,14
R./ Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
R./ Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys,
R./ Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R./ Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
And he has lifted up the horn of his people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
R./ Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:22-27
While Jesus was in Galilee with the Twelve, he said to them, "The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands, and they will kill him. But he will rise on the third day." The Twelve were deeply grieved.
On returning to Capernaum, the Temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, "Does your master pay the temple tax?" He answered, "Certainly."
Peter then entered the house, but immediately Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Simon? Who pay taxes or tributes to the kings of the earth: their sons or the other people?" Peter replied, "The others." And Jesus told him, "The sons, then, are tax-free. But so as not to offend these people, go to the sea, throw in a hook and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find a coin in it, take it and let it pay for you and for me."
Chapter 17 of Matthew kicks off with the Transfiguration. The writer tells us that Peter, James, and John were there with Jesus when he transformed. We don’t know how long the impact of seeing Jesus not just as a teacher and miracle worker, but as God, lasted for them. You’d guess that experience stuck with them forever, but it seems like they still saw him as human afterward – someone extraordinary, but still human. Matthew says they were «saddened» when he talked about his upcoming suffering.
The next part we get in today’s reading is a surprising story: Jesus gets the coin to pay the Temple tax, required by Jewish law since Moses, in a really unusual way.
Peter had already told the religious leaders in Capernaum that he and Jesus would follow the law. Then there’s this conversation between Jesus and Peter that not only confirms Jesus’ divine nature but also teaches a valuable lesson about giving up your rights so you don’t lead others astray.
The social context of this short story is clear. Let’s say Capernaum is Jesus and his disciples’ home base as they travel around the area preaching and healing. It’s a big town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Peter has his house, close to the synagogue. The religious leaders are the ones asking about the sacred duty of contributing to the Temple’s upkeep. It’s a contribution that ultimately means «paying for sins.» Obviously, the Son of God (who hadn’t sinned and had even become human to redeem our sins) had no obligation to follow this rule. But he wisely decides not to upset those who didn’t yet know about salvation but were still meant to hear the message.
Sometimes we look down on people who haven’t had a strong Christian education, and their faith is expressed through devotions and practices we see as childish, folksy, or even superstitious. But these practices are how they express and live their faith. As Christians, we’ve been given the mission to preach… and we’re asked to be brave. But we also need to be discerning, to be, as we’re told elsewhere, «as innocent as doves and as shrewd as snakes,» so that instead of winning hearts for Christ, we don’t push people away with our «superior» comments to those we want to bring to know and love Christ.
Virginia Fernández
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you are present among us in secret, incognito,
with the everyday appearance
of an ordinary person.
God, give us eyes of faith
to see that you are among us
in the person of Jesus your Son
in this eucharist,
in the joys and sorrows of life,
in the people we meet in the street.
Make us attentive to your presence
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
Introduction to the First Reading
Ezekiel presents us God in his impressive majesty and glory. Yet at the same time he is the mobile God, the God to be found where people are, as the imagery of the wings imply, the angelic creatures acting as God's chariot.
Introduction to Gospel Reading
The gospel gives us the image of God-in-civilian Jesus, God's Son, a man who pays his taxes even when he is not obliged to. It may be a hint for us not to ask for privileges because we are Christians and to act and live as free people, who at times - or often - choose to do what we are not obliged to do, especially in the form of help.
General Intercessions
- For the Church, that it may not be ashamed of preaching the crucified Christ and of being self-effacing with him, we pray:
- For all of us, that we may never put the law above people but practice first the great commandment of loving one another, we pray:
- For our Christian communities, that we may welcome strangers and foreigners and make them our friends in the name of God who has befriended us, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father,
you are our God of glory,
and yet you let your Son come among us
in the simple signs of bread and wine.
Stay among us
and make us also reflect your presence
in all simplicity
by making you available to people
in our goodness and compassion,
by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you know how complicated we can be,
and yet, your glory is among us
in all that is simple and commonplace:
in water and oil, bread and wine,
a gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation.
God, we thank you for your goodness.
And may our hearts and gestures
be as simple as your presence,
that in a tear or a smile
we may reveal your Son in our midst,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
We are free sons and daughters of God and we cherish this freedom. Yet we do not want to be a clan separate from others or people seeking privileges. We want to be united with all and to serve them. May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
