“Grandpa, please tell me another fishing tale like the one-time Jesus got into your boat to preach and then commanded you to launch out and cast your nets after you had been fishing all night.”
Peter hugged his granddaughter and said, “Gladly sweetheart. We caught so many fish, without the nets breaking, that we filled two boats. I told Jesus to go away because I am a sinful man but He told me to follow Him to be a fisher of men. That was an amazing catch, but did I ever tell you about the time I caught a big tilapia with my fishing rod? The fish had swallowed my best hook and when I opened its mouth to retrieve it, I found a shiny new shekel inside its mouth?”
“No Grandpa! Are you pulling my leg?”
“Now I wouldn’t do that, would I? Let me tell you how it happened. Two temple taxmen came around asking if Jesus paid the temple tax like all good Jewish men were required to do. I said ‘Of course!’ and then went to tell Jesus and even before I opened my mouth, He asked me who kings are more likely to tax, foreigners or citizens. I said the foreigners. I think He meant that as the Son of David He should not be subject to the tax. But he said ‘So that we do not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook and take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for you and for me.’ And that’s just the way that it happened. Jesus knew what the taxmen wanted before I told Him and took care of both our temple taxes with that shiny shekel.”
“Grandpa, did Jesus put that money into the fish’s mouth?”
“I don’t know darling. He could have, because just before this happened, we apostles were so sad because He told us that He would be killed and be raised again the third day. We were overwhelmed with grief. You know what happened three days after the terrible death of Jesus on Good Friday, don’t you?”
“Of course, He rose from the dead! No one ever did that before, but Jesus! You haven’t stopped talking about it! That’s the reason that Grandma and you and me are here in Rome. So you think He put that coin in its mouth?”
More Wondrous Things
Just like Jesus did great and amazing things in front of Peter’s eyes, so God had done wondrous things for Israel like delivering them from Egypt and bringing them to the Promised Land through Moses’ leadership. In today’s reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people that the God of the Universe has loved them so much that He has come close to them, chosen them for His own people.
In return what does He ask of them? Fear of the Lord, obedience to His commands and wholehearted love and service. This Covenant-God cared for the orphan, the widow and the alien and He expected them to do the same. Jesus told Peter to not give offense to others, but to follow the civil and religious laws. One of the five precepts of the Catholic Church is “to provide for the needs of the Church.” The Church needs us to support its mission to keep proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, who continues to come so close to us in His Body and Blood offered at each Mass.
Fun read especially for grandpas. I was visualizing Lidia asking me things when she was 9 and how I would weave my answer to create a great sense of wonder and delight in her. Thank you for reminding me. We continue to share our faith with hope it will minister to all of them.