2 Peter 3:11-15, 17-18 / Mark 12:13-17
Whenever people ask us questions to find out something from us, it will make us annoyed and irritated.
Because we think that they are rather cunning and slippery.
We want to avoid them so as to avoid getting into a sticky situation.
But at the same time, we also don’t want to offend them or tell them off.
But upon a deeper reflection, if there is nothing to hide, then there is also nothing to fear.
Still, it is not as simple as that, and life and people can be quite complicated.
In the gospel, the Pharisees and some Herodians were sent to catch Jesus out on what He said.
They were seemingly courteous, and even praised Jesus for being an honest man and teaches the way of God in all honesty.
Then they asked the question of paying taxes to Caesar.
But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy, and He even said it straight to their faces, “Why do you set this trap for me?”
We may be able to tell people off like Jesus did.
But if we don’t like people to be hypocrites, then let us not be one ourselves.
Let us learn from Jesus to be honest and keep walking in the ways of God and to ask questions in a loving way.