The second part of today's reading is a peculiar scene, only to be found in Matthew. The collectors of the temple tax want to know whether Jesus pays it or not. Peter assures them that He does. But on entering the house Jesus asks Peter: 'Do kings collect tax from their sons, that is, their subjects, or from foreigners?' Jesus is the Son and His disciples as brothers are also sons. The Temple is God's house and Jesus is His Son and His disciples are His brothers, sons of the same Father. They should then be exempt. But to avoid giving scandal and misunderstanding, Peter is told to catch a fish in whose mouth he will find a shekel, enough to pay for both of them.

This passage seems to reflect a dilemma of the early Church. A double dilemma. Should Christians who are Jews continue to pay the Temple tax? Should all Christians have to pay tax to a pagan government? The first dilemma solved itself in time with the destruction of the Temple. The second dilemma took longer. The problem seems to have been solved by the principle laid down by Jesus: Give to the emperor what belongs to the emperor and to God what belongs to God.

We too have to discern what is legitimately required of us by our government and make our contribution to the needs of our society.