Wednesday, December 3

Gospel Reading: Luke 20:19-26

¹⁹When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people. ²⁰So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. ²¹So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. ²²Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” ²³But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, ²⁴“Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “The emperor’s.” ²⁵He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²⁶And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.

Reflection

Jesus’ teachings often had a two-fold result: they upset the religious establishment AND they led people to a new, a deeper insight into the spiritual life. Specifically, in this passage, Jesus’ teaching helped his followers to put into practice the teaching “for everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” Know the time for this, know the time for that…and you will live.

Questions for reflection

Watch for things in your life today with an eye toward, “What time is it?” What will it look like to offer a prayer to God for wisdom in discerning when is the right time?