In Today’s Catholic Reading, Jesus Christ gives His alternative to every kind of human temple. The artist of this painting is so brilliant that we cannot tell if this human temple is being built up or torn down!
~
Question 1: “Why did Jesus Christ take Human Form on earth?”
Answer: “He came to share God’s Truth most fully with those who would meaningfully realize He Is The Promised Messiah. His most faithful followers would respectfully and gratefully obey His Church-Creating Word and get the ‘keys’ He died to leave on earth:
‘And I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.’”
~
Question 2: “How did Jesus change the course of History in Today’s Catholic Reading?”
Answer: “Every city in the ancient world had temples for the many gods they worshiped. Temples were financial centers where people and governments kept assets, made loans, and charged interest.”
~
Question 3: “Did The Temple in Jerusalem do that?”
Answer: “The only Temple founded on God’s Word to Moses and The Prophets was also a financial center with huge assets. ‘Herodians’ and ‘Pharisees’ were among those threatened by the Teachings of Jesus that put God ‘before’ their earthly concerns.”
~
Question 4: “Is that why Mark 12:13-17 gives this account? ‘Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare Him in His speech. They came and said to Him:
‘Teacher, we know that You are a truthful man and that You are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.’”
~
Question 5: “After that excessively polite introduction, what were they told to ask?”
Answer: “They were told to ask this carefully calculated question: ‘Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?’”
~
Question 6: “Why did they ask that cunning question?”
Answer: “They wanted Jesus to bring the power of The Roman Empire down upon Himself and His Disciples! If Jesus said to ‘not pay the census tax’, temple supporters would rightfully demand that Pontius Pilate have Him arrested and punished for treason.”
~
Question 7: “Did Jesus fall into their trap?”
Answer: “Jesus was too smart for them! ‘Knowing their hypocrisy He said to them, ‘Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.’ They brought one to Him and He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’
They replied to him, ‘Caesar’s.’
So Jesus said to them, ‘Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.'”
~
Question 8: “What was their response?”
Answer: “‘They were utterly amazed at Him.'”
~
Question 9: “Why were they ‘utterly amazed at Him’?”
Answer: “History changed at that moment! For thousands of years, tens of thousands of temples had been built to agencies around the world. No religious leader in History had ever put God above somewhat religious financial centers.
~
Question 10: “Had a man who lived in Poverty, Celibacy, and Obedience suddenly shown God was more important than earthly interests?”
Answer: “For the following 2,000 years, Catholic priests, religious, and people would ‘repay to Caesar what belongs to him’ while giving their souls, hearts, and minds to God, despite continuous persecution from many kinds of ‘temple’ supporters.”
~
Question 11: “Did Human History change when Jesus separated Catholics from the rest of the world’s people?”
Answer: “One thing did not change: Catholics still ask God to let Victims of Protestantism be blessed to get the only ‘keys to The Kingdom of Heaven’ that Jesus Christ specifically gave to The First Pope of His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church on earth.”
~
