END OF THE RAINBOW

There are only few occasions when I get to see a rainbow in the sky. I have always loved and been amazed whenever I see one. It makes us think of a lot of wonderful things like the famous story of the Irish leprechaun. It was believed to be the secret hiding place for his pot of gold and is usually said to be at the end of the rainbow. This place is impossible to reach. We might have not noticed this, when walking towards the end of a rainbow, it will appear to "move" further away because two people who simultaneously observe a rainbow at different locations will disagree about where a rainbow is. Today's 1st reading describes God in a vision as such. We all have differences in our perception and understanding of a lot of things. Just as a rainbow is said to be an optical effect which depends on the location of the viewer so is our perception of the glory of God. Where we are at right now with regards to our relationship with God makes all the difference. We need to be in the optimum location in order to gain access to the best view of God's splendor and majesty. Amen. Hallelujah!

Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c
...he was surrounded with splendor. 28 Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

When we meet people that we like we long to be in their company and start to develop a bond with them. The more we know them and spend time with them the better our relationship becomes. Today's psalm reveals to us the perfect location where we should be at in order to attain to such a relationship. Nowhere else but close to God. Amen. Hallelujah!


Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
R: Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
...And he has lifted up the horn of his people. Be this his praise from all his faithful ones, from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia.

People we like and admire are a delight to be with. There are certain qualities that make us feel this way for some people. This is because we want to be close to them who are good company. This does not come as a surprise because it is only natural for us to be attracted to pleasant people. Today's gospel shows us a lot of things about Jesus. Not just pleasant ones but divine revelations. This is not just attractive but amazingly unbelievable. Can we imagine someone telling us exactly what is about to happen and it did happen. This what Jesus id just did in the 1st part of the gospel. He revealed to His disciples about His passion, death and resurrection. In the latter part, Jesus even asked Peter about the tax even before he had time to speak and gave him specific instructions as to where to find the money to pay the tax. These are all extraordinary and supernatural events that only point to one thing, He is God, All Powerful and worthy to be praised and adored. Amen. Hallelujah!


Matthew 17:22-27 (or Luke 12:22-46)
22 As Jesus and his disciples 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.”