St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious (Optional Memorial)

Then the subjects are exempt.

It’s no surprise that taxation causes controversy. It’s one of the two certainties of life, as the saying goes! The tax that is the subject of today’s Gospel was assessed on all Jewish adult males for the upkeep of the Temple in Jerusalem. So it would be expected that a well-known religious figure like Jesus would have certainly kept up with that tax. It would be a perfect way for him to express his closeness to the God of Israel.

But in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a different perspective: The “subjects” of a kingdom are exempt from taxes (Matthew 17:26). Actually, the Greek word here is huioi, which is usually translated as “sons” or “children.” And that word matters. It means that when he arranged for Peter to find two coins for the tax, Jesus was saying that they were both children of the kingdom of God. Isn’t that amazing? Not only Jesus, the eternal Son of God, was a child of the kingdom, but Peter was as well. And not only Peter, but every disciple.

That title, “child of the kingdom”—and all the privileges and responsibilities that come with it—belongs to everyone who becomes a son or daughter of God through Baptism. It’s what St. Paul meant when he wrote that we are “fellow citizens . . . and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). It’s what Peter meant when he urged us to “be built into a spiritual house” that gives glory to God (1 Peter 2:5).

You may feel that you are a distant cousin of that kingdom. You may have times when it feels as if you’re stuck in some wilderness by yourself while the true children of the kingdom enjoy life in the palace. But that’s just not true. You belong because your heavenly Father chose you from before time began (Ephesians 1:4). You belong because Jesus died and rose for you (2 Corinthians 5:14-17). You belong because God has sent his Spirit into your heart (Galatians 4:6).

Who are you? A child of the kingdom. Never forget that.

“Jesus, thank you for making me a child of your kingdom! Teach me how to live in that calling every day.”

Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28
Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14
Matthew 17:22-27