Daily Catholic Lectio. Mon, 11 August ‘25. Paying tax

Daily Catholic Lectio

Mon, 11 August ‘25

Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Monday

Deuteronomy 10:12-22. Matthew 17:22-27

Paying tax

There is a simple truth in life: the small should never take the place of the great. When small things begin to occupy the place of what is truly important, the great will quickly fade away.

We know this from our own experience. Many times, we have lost something valuable because we clung to what was trivial.

For example: the great aim in life may be to achieve a meaningful goal. But laziness or oversleeping — small things — can stand in the way. Choosing the small over the great leads to loss.

1. Jesus and the Tax

In today’s Gospel, Matthew gives us two events together: Jesus predicts His Passion for the second time. Jesus pays the temple tax — for Himself and His disciples.

This tax payment is mentioned only by Matthew. When Peter is asked, “Does your Teacher not pay the tax?”, Jesus does not turn it into a debate. Instead, He sends Peter to the lake, telling him to find a coin in the mouth of the first fish he catches — and to pay the tax.

Jesus’ great mission was clear: to suffer, die, and rise again for our salvation. Compared to that, paying the temple tax was a small matter. He neither protests against the tax nor wastes time arguing with the collectors. His focus was on the greater mission, not on being distracted by minor issues.

2. Moses on the Greater Goal

In the first reading, Moses defines what is truly great for the people of Israel: “Fear the Lord your God, serve Him, and hold fast to Him.” When that goal is clear, the journey of life becomes clear. The people’s energy would not be wasted on small disputes but directed toward their covenant relationship with God.

3. Our Own Distractions

Today, we too set great goals — yet we often lose our time and energy in the small things: Checking memes and reels, Watching who posts what on Instagram or WhatsApp, Counting how many people viewed our status, Obsessing over how far our posts have reached

There is nothing wrong with these in themselves, but when they take the place of prayer, purpose, and love, we have traded the great for the small.

4. A Call to Focus

Our life may seem long if we measure it in years — 60, 70, 80. But if we think in decades, it suddenly feels short. The first two decades pass in learning and growing. The remaining few decades are where the real work of love, service, and mission must happen. How much of that precious time can we afford to waste on what is small?

Prayer:

Lord, keep my heart focused on what matters most — loving You, serving You, and walking in Your ways. Teach me not to trade the great treasures of life for passing distractions. Help me to fix my eyes on the mission You have entrusted to me. Amen.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy