Tilapia: St. Peter's Fish

~~~ Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin ~~~
~~~ Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28C ~~~ Psalm 148 ~~~ Matthew 17:22-27 ~~~

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

The prophet Ezekiel shares with us
his magnificent vision of the glory of God.
There are storms, flashing fires, human like creatures
with large powerful wings, roaring waters,
and the voice of the Almighty.

Just yesterday we heard from the book of Kings
that the Lord was in the tiny whisper.
So which is it? Is God small as a whisper or mighty as a fire storm?
Or is it possible that he exists in all of these elements? 

Ezekiel goes on to describe the beauty
 of the throne looking like sapphire.
All of this as if radiating from this figure,
filled the sky with the brilliant colors of the rainbow.

Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

Our challenge today is to open our eyes to where ever God
makes his presence known...be it in the quietness of a whisper
or in the arc of colors brushed across the sky.

The gospel today follows the account of the Transfiguration, 

when Jesus reveals himself in the fullness of his glory.
While this account is nothing like Ezekiel's vision
it gives us a picture of the magnificence of the glory of God.

The question about who is obliged to pay the taxes
comes up in this chapter of Matthew
because ultimately Jesus will pay the price for all of us.

We have been freely brought into this kingdom.
It is tax free for all of eternity.
 Jesus does not wish to abolish the laws, as we know,
so he pays the required tax doubling the amount.

He pays with the miracle of the gold coin taken
 from the mouth of a fish.

This is not one of the major miracles preformed by Jesus,
but one rich for discussion.
When do you think the coin was actually
placed into the mouth of the fish?
How did Jesus know exactly which fish
 Peter would catch?

Jess performed this miracle for one main purpose,
...that we may not offend them...

This miracle confirms Jesus acts with the blessing of the Father.
He has dominion even over the fish the Peter would catch.

This miracle confirms for the apostles that
Jesus is one with the Father...
he is all powerful.

We are blessed with an all powerful...
all knowing God who calls us to be a part of his Kingdom.
Jesus supersedes all of our small minded expectations
on most occasions.
~~~Peace~~~

Here is something interesting about this fish story.
Tilapia were a common fish caught in this sea.
Tilapia were known to carry their young in their mouth for protection.

It was not uncommon for them to also have other objects
caught in their mouth, sometimes even shiny objects.
Perhaps even just the right coin...
Peter would not have thought this directive
 from Jesus to be too strange after all.

In the Mouth of a Fish

~~~ Deuteronomy 10:12-22 ~~~ Psalm 147 ~~~ Matthew 17:22-27 ~~~

 

Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked.

 

Overwhelmed with grief at hearing that Jesus must die,

now they must deal with a civil issue.

There is a long standing saying that paying taxes and dying are the only

two things you cannot get away from doing.

 

So here we have Jesus speaking about how he must die and the temple

tax collector jumps right in.

 

Jesus does not want to offend, but he also does not encourage

blindly following the letter of the law.

 

Jesus performs one of his most unusual miracles...

He pays his taxes with a coin from out of the mouth of a fish.

How odd is that?

He fed large crowds with a small handful of fish.

His first disciples were fishermen.

In a way it is almost ironic that they should get the money to pay their

temple taxes from a fish.

They were certainly familiar with catching fish...

it was their livelihood.

 

 

Jesus told Peter and the others that he would make them fishers of men.

In spreading the gospel message there are gold coins to be found.

There are treasured stories of how God

 works in the life of each person.

You may have your own treasured story of how

you came to realize the presence of God.

 

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.

 

Whatever you owe to Cesar does not compare to what

God has in store for you.

Jesus pays the ultimate 'tax' paying with his life for us.

 

Peter was to take the first fish...he was to open its mouth.

The fish did not just jump out of the water a spit up the coin.

Peter was to approach the sea with his fishing gear

 as any other normal day of fishing.

 

If you have ever been fishing you will know

that you may be waiting for that first fish for quite a while.

You must exercise patience to be a fisherman.

 

Jesus pays the expected taxes in a very unconventional way.

Jesus wants us to cut open our hearts,

even to circumcise them.

 

Jesus says give to God what is God's and to Cesar what is Cesar's.

He never says something he does not support with his actions.

Remember he did not come to abolish the law,

but rather to fulfill it as had never previously been done.

 

In the middle of their grief Jesus performs a miracle

right in the mouth of a fish.

 

When was the last time you looked in the mouth of a fish for God's blessings?

I can honestly say I have never

considered a fish as a source for tax money.

God never ceases to amaze!

He will always provide.

More Precious than Gold

~~~ Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c ~~~ Psalm 148 ~~~ Matthew 17: 22-27 ~~~

There are times when something you read from the Bible

that would really be nice to experience today.

We have one such example today in the gospel...

"...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."

I think it is pretty safe to say...that really would be nice...

to go fishing and to catch just the right fish. The fish with the golden coin,

worth enough to cover your taxes.

Maybe this is the basis for gambling...to win the golden coin.

It is so tempting to keep on 'fishing' when the prize is something you want. 

Jesus sent Peter fishing...that is what he knew best.

After all he was a fisherman by trade.

Fishing may have also been therapeutic for Peter;

as he was overcome with grief at the thought of losing Jesus.

Jesus sent Peter to do what he already knew how to do;

there he made the 'golden' catch.

Gold coins were valuable then much as they are today.

Gold coins are prized by collectors the world over.

Gold has been highly valued since ancient times.

In its natural state Gold is found across the world.

History records the Gold Rush we had here in the states years ago.

The great author, Homer, writes...

"...gold is the glory of the immortals and a sign of wealth

among ordinary humans."

Gold is the easiest of metals to work with and its brilliance

made it a favorite for ornamental items.

Gold neither corrodes or tarnishes.

Gold...highly prized.

Jesus and the apostles were not wealthy by typical standards.

Jesus willfully pays the local prescribed taxes;

he pays them with the currency of the wealthy.

Wealth to Jesus is not gold coins but he uses this gold

to symbolize his great power and wealth.

Of course we know wealth to Jesus has nothing to do with gold coins

and everything to do with your heart.

Rather than letting Peter be distraught over not having

the funds for the local taxes;

Jesus sends him back to his roots...the water.

God will bless you with abundance naturally living your everyday life.

There is no need to spend your day on your knees praying.

Gold a prized desired commodity.

What could be more desirable than being with the Lord,

having him with you until the end of times.

True wealth lies in the Lord.

Jesus has Peter secure one gold coin from the mouth

of the fish worth enough

to cover the taxes for both himself and Peter.

Jesus put the money in  the mouth of the fish.

I am reminded of two common says here...

put your money where your mouth is

money talks

Even here Jesus is taking care of someone other than himself.

Gold is highly prized,

neither corroding or tarnishing.

It endures.

I consider my relationship with Jesus...

highly prized.

Lord, let me always value more the wealth I have in you

over the wealth I have in material objects.

You are more precious than gold.