In today's Gospel, "some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech!" Hoping to corner Him, they ask Him whether it is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not. "Knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them: 'Bring me a denarius to look at....Whose image and inscription is this?...Caesar's. So...[r]epay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.'"
Just as Jesus knew their intentions, so, too does He know yours and mine. Hypocrisy, insincerity, a lack of genuineness and integrity do not escape Jesus! "Why," Jesus asks his interrogators, "are you testing me?" Do you and I realize when we are testing Jesus? And when we are being testy and insincere in our relationships with others and with therefore with God, Jesus does not condemn us any more than He condemned the Pharisees or the Herodians, in this instance. He gives them, and us, an opportunity to face truth. He does not leave them, or us, off the cuff, so to speak, but puts forth a challenge! In what ways has Jesus challenged you/me today, this past week, this past month? In what ways has Jesus shown us His patience so as to bring us to repentance, to salvation?
Lord, open my eyes to my hypocrisy! Show me the truth that is hidden from me when I set out to ensnare another person?
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