Fishing for Change

11Aug
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?’ He said, ‘Yes, he does.’ And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?’ When Peter said, ‘From others’, Jesus said to him, ‘Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offence to them, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.’
 -Matthew 17: 24-27


I love this verse: there’s the obvious parallel of paying taxes and giving unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and Jesus is unbothered that they need to pay the temple tax. I love that Jesus asks Simon what method they need to pay-like, a spiritual cash or credit? Does it have to come directly from our labor, or is it a situation where they don’t care how it comes in, they just have to be paid? (Kind of how we all envision a bored employee pointing at a sign: no cash, no service).


But then there’s the unexpected realization that Jesus knows the source of blessings. Like literally, just go catch a fish, and there will be a coin in its mouth. Not only can you pay the temple tax with whatever you find, but here’s dinner on me too. There’s the implication too that God knows where all the treasures are: He planted them in the most unexpected of places. And this concept can extend not just to actual treasures, but business ideas, literature, art, music that have been planted and waiting for someone to find. 


I think of little unexpected blessings throughout the day as “Pennies from Heaven,” from the famous New Orleanian, Louis Prima. How often do we look on the ground and find pennies, silver coins, even bills? I wouldn’t even believe it myself unless it had happened to me, but I have found $100 bills even on the ground (once at the Costco and once outside a Winn Dixie). Both times, I went in to the front desk to leave my number in case someone came in having lost money (I did worry that it could have been someone’s grocery money or a child’s birthday money that inadvertently was dropped), but I never got a call either time. So a week later, my mind was at ease to call the money mine!


God is so good and full of unexpected blessings-what kinds of treasures have you unexpectedly found in the most unlikely of locations? 


Musical Reflection - Pennies from Heaven - Louis Prima


Thank you God for unexpected gifts from the most unlikely of places. Thank you for gifts of inspiration, gifts of blessing, and especially for pennies from heaven! Amen

GospelPentecost

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