First Reading (Ezekiel 1,2-5.24-28c)
Reading of Ezekiel’s Prophecy.
On the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans, by the River Chebar. There the hand of the Lord was upon him. I saw a mighty wind coming from the north, a great cloud with flashes of light and lightning, and in the midst of it shone something like glowing gold. In the midst of it were four living creatures. This was their appearance: each one was like a man. And I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty. When they moved, their sound was like the roar of a camp; when they stood still, they spread their wings. The sound came from the firmament above their heads. Above the firmament that was over their heads was something like a throne, like sapphire, and on the throne, high above, was a figure that looked like a man. And I saw something like a blazing gold, surrounding the figure as if it were fire, above what seemed to be the waist; below what seemed to be the waist I saw something like fire, and around it was a circle of light. This circle of light had the appearance of a rainbow that appears in the clouds on a rainy day. This was the visible appearance of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown to the ground.
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Matthew 17,22-27)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
At that time, when Jesus and his disciples were gathered in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And the disciples were very sad. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” Peter answered, “Yes, he does.” When he entered the house, Jesus went forward and asked, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect taxes or customs: from their sons or from strangers?” Peter answered, “From strangers.” Then Jesus said to them, “Then the sons are free. But so as not to offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. There you will find a coin; then take the coin and give it to them, for me and for you.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Imagine for a moment that we are walking along a dusty road under the blazing Galilean sun. The air is heavy, not only with the heat, but with the palpable tension between Jesus and his disciples. Our Lord’s words echo in our ears: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.”
We can feel the weight of these words, the confusion and sadness they bring to the hearts of the disciples. How would we react if we were there, hearing this dark prophecy from the lips of our beloved Master?
This scene from the Gospel of Matthew confronts us with one of the greatest paradoxes of the Christian faith: the glory of God manifested through suffering and humiliation. Jesus, the Son of God, willingly submits to human cruelty in order to fulfill the divine plan of salvation. What a profound mystery!
But before we delve deeper into this paradox, let us turn our attention to the extraordinary vision of the prophet Ezekiel that we heard in the first reading. Ezekiel presents us with an image of God so majestic, so transcendent, that we can hardly comprehend it. He speaks of mysterious creatures, of wheels within wheels, of a firmament that shines like crystal. And above all this, a throne of sapphire and a figure “with the appearance of a man.”
What a striking contrast! On the one hand, we have the indescribable glory of God revealed to Ezekiel. On the other, we have Jesus, the Word made flesh, walking in the dust of Galilee, speaking of his imminent death. How do we reconcile these two images?
The answer, my dear brothers and sisters, lies at the heart of the mystery of the Incarnation. The almighty God, whose glory causes Ezekiel to fall facedown, chooses to reveal himself to us in the most unexpected way—through the vulnerability of a human being. Jesus, fully divine and fully human, shows us the face of God not only in moments of glory, but also – and perhaps especially – in moments of weakness and suffering.
Let’s reflect for a moment on our own lives. How often do we seek God only in moments of joy and triumph? How often do we forget to seek Him when we are facing hardship, pain, or failure? Today’s Gospel reminds us that God is present in every aspect of our existence, even—and perhaps especially—in our darkest moments.
Let’s return to the scene in the Gospel. Jesus has just spoken about his impending death, and what happens next? He is approached about paying the Temple tax. What an abrupt transition! From the sublime to the mundane in a matter of moments. But isn’t that how life works? One moment we are contemplating the deepest mysteries of existence, the next we are preoccupied with bills to pay and everyday tasks.
Jesus’ response to this situation is fascinating. He could have simply paid the tax or refused to do so. Instead, he creates a teachable moment by instructing Peter to catch a fish that miraculously contains a coin in its mouth. What is Jesus showing us here?
First, he demonstrates his divine power over creation. The same God whose glory Ezekiel could barely describe is now orchestrating the movements of a fish in the Sea of Galilee. What a powerful reminder that the God of the universe cares about even the most minute details of our lives!
Second, Jesus is teaching us about freedom and responsibility. He states that as the Son of God, he is technically exempt from this tax. Yet he chooses to pay it “so as not to offend them.” What a profound lesson about using our freedom not for our own benefit but for the good of others!
Finally, by instructing Peter to pay the tax for both himself and Jesus, our Lord is subtly pointing to the unity between himself and his followers. We, like Peter, are called to participate in the mission of Christ, to share in both his glory and his suffering.
Dear brothers and sisters, what lessons can we draw from these readings for our lives today?
First, we are invited to recognize the majesty and transcendence of God, just as Ezekiel did. Let us take a moment to marvel at the greatness of the Creator. Look up at the stars at night, contemplate the beauty of a flower, marvel at the complexity of the human body. Throughout creation, we see reflections of God’s glory. At the same time, we are called to recognize God in the most unexpected places—in the face of the poor, in the embrace of a friend, in the stillness of our hearts. The God whose glory caused Ezekiel to fall facedown is the same God who walks with us in our daily struggles. Second, we are challenged to embrace both glory and suffering in our spiritual lives. Like Jesus, who spoke of his impending death and yet continued his ministry, we are called to face the difficult realities of our lives without losing hope or faith.
Remember, after speaking of his death, Jesus also spoke of his resurrection. The cross always points to new life. Third, we are invited to use our freedom responsibly, as Jesus did when he paid his taxes. In a world that too often equates freedom with selfishness, we are called to show a different way—the way of sacrificial love and service to others. Finally, we are reminded that God cares about every aspect of our lives—from the most sublime to the most mundane.
There is no area of our lives that is too insignificant to bring before God in prayer. My dear brothers and sisters, as we leave here today, let us take these truths with us. May we see the glory of God in the majesty of creation and in the simplicity of everyday life. May we find the strength to face our own “cups of suffering,” knowing that resurrection always follows the cross. And may we use our freedom not to serve ourselves but to serve others, following the example of Christ. May the God of Ezekiel, whose glory fills the heavens, and the Jesus of Nazareth, who walked the dusty roads of Galilee, be with us every step of our journey. May His presence comfort us in times of sorrow, strengthen us in times of weakness, and inspire us to live lives of love and service.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and always. Amen.
