For 2 June 2015, Tuesday of the 9th week of the year, based on Tobit 2:9-14, Mark 12:13-17
Tobit 2:9-14
On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead, I, Tobit, went into my courtyard to sleep next to the courtyard wall; and my face was uncovered because of the heat. I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall; their fresh droppings fell into my eyes and produced white films. I went to physicians to be healed, but the more they treated me with ointments the more my vision was obscured by the white films, until I became completely blind. For four years I remained unable to see. All my kindred were sorry for me, and Ahikar took care of me for two years before he went to Elymais.
 At that time, also, my wife Anna earned money at women’s work. She used to send what she made to the owners and they would pay wages to her. One day, the seventh of Dystrus, when she cut off a piece she had woven and sent it to the owners, they paid her full wages and also gave her a young goat for a meal. When she returned to me, the goat began to bleat. So I called her and said, “Where did you get this goat? It is surely not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for we have no right to eat anything stolen.†But she said to me, “It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages.†But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners. I became flushed with anger against her over this. Then she replied to me, “Where are your acts of charity? Where are your righteous deeds? These things are known about you!â€
Mark 12:13-17
They sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?†But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.†And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?†They answered, “The emperor’s.†Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.†And they were utterly amazed at him.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Jim Motl, O.P.
Fr. Jim Motl, O.P., taught homiletics at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, at the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and at Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, MO. At present he is limited service at St. Pius V Priory in Chicago.
2 Jun 2015
God’s sense of humor
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Tobit 2:9-14
On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead, I, Tobit, went into my courtyard to sleep next to the courtyard wall; and my face was uncovered because of the heat. I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall; their fresh droppings fell into my eyes and produced white films. I went to physicians to be healed, but the more they treated me with ointments the more my vision was obscured by the white films, until I became completely blind. For four years I remained unable to see. All my kindred were sorry for me, and Ahikar took care of me for two years before he went to Elymais.
 At that time, also, my wife Anna earned money at women’s work. She used to send what she made to the owners and they would pay wages to her. One day, the seventh of Dystrus, when she cut off a piece she had woven and sent it to the owners, they paid her full wages and also gave her a young goat for a meal. When she returned to me, the goat began to bleat. So I called her and said, “Where did you get this goat? It is surely not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for we have no right to eat anything stolen.†But she said to me, “It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages.†But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners. I became flushed with anger against her over this. Then she replied to me, “Where are your acts of charity? Where are your righteous deeds? These things are known about you!â€
Mark 12:13-17
They sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?†But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.†And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?†They answered, “The emperor’s.†Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.†And they were utterly amazed at him.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Jim Motl, O.P.
Fr. Jim Motl, O.P., taught homiletics at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, at the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and at Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, MO. At present he is limited service at St. Pius V Priory in Chicago.