Today is Monday the 12th August in the 19th week of Ordinary Time. Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing the Shestopsalmiye from Rachmaninov’s Vespers: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.’ Slava v vyshnikh Bogu, i na zemli mir, v chelovetsekh blagovoleniye. Gospodi, ustne moyi otverzeshi, i usta moya vozvestyat khvalu Tvoyu Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 17:22-27 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.’ As you listened to this scene, what did you notice? Were you drawn to the conversation about taxes? Or to Jesus’s words about children being free? Or perhaps to his desire not to give offence? What stays with you from this reading? Take a moment to just stay with a part of the scene, recalling the words or images. Let your attention come to Jesus as he speaks to Peter. As you consider Jesus in this passage, what do you feel? How do you react to him? Listen again to this story, to the conversation between these friends, Peter and Jesus. Again, notice what you’re feeling as you listen. Take a few moments now to join the conversation with Jesus. You might want to speak about this story – or there may be something else that’s on your mind. Speak to him as you would to a friend and listen to what he may say to you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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