“When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” . . . . . . . . . . . .However, not to give offence to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
Excerpts, Gospel Reading, Monday 12th August 2024 – MATTHEW 17:22-27.
So, do you also have this feeling that Christ asking the Apostle Peter to do what he did in today’s teaching is symbolic?
As a matter of fact, getting a fisherman in the first place to be the Prefect of the Apostles in itself is also very symbolic.
Christ could as well have reached out to a soldier who would whip people in line and in tune to his purpose.
Or, he could have called a wealthy man who would have summoned the power of his wealth to get people to follow Christ.
Nevertheless, it was a crass, brash, unlettered and little-tempered fisherman that such privilege fell on.
Well, God’s ways are beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. Him alone knows our tomorrow from today.
However, one of the symbols of today’s teaching could be that, what we do as a trade or vocation should fend for us.
Then again, could it be that there was no fish in the river that may have swallowed a gold ring lost by someone or an amount bigger than a shekel that Christ could have summoned for Peter?
The immediate above rhetoric is symbolic of the “Lord’s Prayer.” The part that says, “Give us this day, our daily bread.”
This symbolises that God comes through for us at the point of our need and with what we need.
God intends us to use what comes across to us as excess to also reach out to others who are in need.
This message simply put is that, God gives us that which is sufficient for us for that moment.
When we put all of our faith, hope trust and confidence in God, He makes things happen for us.
My dear friend, we must trust in God and have faith and hope in Him and He will come through for us.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase Agabo.
12th Aug. 2024.