Tuesday, June 02, 2020 - Ninth week of Ordinary Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 12, 13-17 - May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ open the eyes of our hearts to his light, so that we may perceive the hope that his call gives.

Let us note that the Gospel according to Saint Mark ends in chapter 16. Today, we continue in chapter 12. In other words, Jesus is near the end of his mission. No wonder his opponents are plotting or meeting secretly and looking for a way to confuse Jesus. Look at the manner or language of those who tempt Jesus: "Teacher, we know that you are always true". The trap is: "Is it permissible, yes or no, to pay tax to Caesar, the emperor?". First teaching: let us be careful that no one tempts us; let us reflect on the answers we give, for it is possible that we may be trapped.

So this is not the way to deal with differing opinions. Gossip and slander are not the solution. Hypocrisy is not the solution either: smile from the front, but curse from the back. Complacency is still not the solution. Admittedly, there are so-called diplomacy and methods of communication. However, if it is sarcasm and flattery, know that they are destructive. And temptation is even less the answer: tempting people or tempting God.

Dear Christians, even before the tempter, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach. His answer was: "What is Caesar's, give it back to Caesar, and to God what is God's". Jesus means that fidelity to God is not incompatible with citizenship. That is to say, being a Christian is not meant to replace or suppress citizenship. What is incongruous is a Christian who is indifferent and foreign to the community, a Christian who does not pay taxes, a Christian who does not vote, an anarchic Christian, insubordinate in the sense of the common good. In other words, the message that Jesus wants to convey is: one can be a good citizen while at the same time being a good Christian.