The Inevitable Tax
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 / Psalm 147 / Matthew 17:22-27
In today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts His death for the second time: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men… They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” His disciples were grieved, because nobody likes to hear about death. But Jesus saw it differently. He knew death was an inevitable tax, the payment we must all make before stepping into eternity. You can avoid many bills in life, but not this one.
Right after His death prediction, Jesus pays the temple tax. Strange? Not really. He was showing us that just as taxes must be settled, so must our souls be ready to settle with God. The Church teaches the “Four Last Things”: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. We don’t get to skip any checkpoint. So the question is not “Will it happen?” but “Am I ready?” Moses tells us in Deuteronomy: the way to be ready is simple—fear the Lord, walk in His ways, and keep His commands. In other words, live so that when your bill comes due, it’s already paid in Christ.
Today we also remember St. Clare of Assisi, the mirror of simplicity and courage. She was born into wealth but renounced it all to follow Christ in poverty, prayer, and purity. She understood that the inevitable tax wasn’t just about dying—it was about daily dying to self. By living detached from possessions, she “prepaid” her tax with a life wholly surrendered to God. Even when an army threatened her convent, she confronted them with nothing but the Blessed Sacrament, and they fled. St. Clare teaches us that readiness for eternity comes from total trust in God and radical faith in His presence.
Prayer
Lord, teach us to number our days and prepare our hearts. Through the example of St. Clare, make us fearless in faith, generous in love, and ready for our final journey. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
