Deuteronomy 10:12-22 / Matthew 17:22-27
When we reflect deeper on the things that Jesus did, we may wonder why He did those things. And as the Son of God, He didn't really have to do it.
He didn't have to be born in a stable, and yet He did. He didn't have to work as a carpenter, and yet He did.
He didn't have to wash His disciples' feel, and yet He did. he didn't have to die on the cross and yet He did.
And as we heard in the gospel, He didn't have to pay that half-shekel, and yet He did.
In doing so, Jesus our Master has taught us a profound lesson in the Christian way of life.
He is the Son of God, He is Lord, He is Master, He is our Teacher.
Yet, He humbled Himself to do what He was exempted from.
In life, we may find ourselves laden with someone else's work, something we don't have to do and we won't even be faulted for it.
We can conveniently push it aside and not bother at all. After all, it is NOT our work and we won't be held responsible.
But let us remember the lesson of the half-shekel, and also remember what the 1st reading tells us about what God wants of us.
It's only this: to fear the Lord your God, to follow His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.
When we do that, we will be rewarded with a full shekel of God's blessings.