22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25 “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” 26 When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. 27 But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.” (Matt 17:22-27)
HULI HOLIDAY
Once, in the 2000s, I was driving from Tarlac to Manila. As I entered Manila, I was seized with some fear because of the number coding scheme of the day. Then I suddenly remembered from the early morning traffic report that that day was the thirty-first anniversary celebration of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). They were implementing what they called “huli holiday” where no motorist would be apprehended for any violation.
I heaved a sigh of relief having remembered that. But relief turned to dismay when I entered the Skyway for there was almost a kilometer of vehicles queueing at the exit. The no traffic citation resulted in heavy traffic jams along the major thoroughfares. Yet, according to the chair of the MMDA, the huli holiday was a success because it gave motorists a chance to reflect on what compels them to obey traffic rules. He said: “Now that there are no apprehensions, will they follow traffic rules or not? I think that that’s what is on the minds of motorists now. For that reason alone, I am very happy.” In the same note, the jeepney drivers interviewed that morning were asked whether it was okay to disobey traffic rules in the absence of the traffic enforcers. They said no—one said that there would be chaos and another said that we should not disobey laws.
When we obey traffic rules or any other law, we do it for good reason. In the Gospel is presented a question from Peter to Jesus regarding the payment of the Temple tax. Jesus, noting that they were not bound to pay this, nevertheless paid it, in respect of the others. When we are presented with rules and regulations, we do so not because we are afraid to be punished. We follow rules not for any compensation. We do not even do things just because they are stipulated in the law. We do things because of principles of which we are convinced. We do things out of love and respect for others.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Do I do things because of respect and love of others?
2. What motivates me in the things that I do?
Lord, I pray that I be motivated by love and respect of my neighbor.
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