PREPARING FOR NEXT WEEK

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection

Jesus was not fooled by the Pharisee’s shameful flattery and hypocrisy when with malice, they set their plan to trap him so that he may be condemned by the authorities. They asked a simple question: “Is it lawful to pay census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing he would answer honestly, they hoped to find a way to discredit him by showing his opposition to Roman law and to Caesar. But Jesus answered truthfully; there is no conflict between the kingdoms on earth and the Kingdom of Heaven. Tax coins bearing Caesar’s image are paid to Caesar; as are taxes paid in any earthly kingdom (which should be used for wise governance and to benefit the poor and the common good- as highlighted by the undertones of today’s first reading).

The only taxes that Christians pay is to the image of Christ imprinted on their very selves by baptism — and our tax is simple — it is the very gift of our selves. At times what we owe God is put into conflict with civil authority — conscientious objection to war, concerns for the dignity of life, decisions regarding poverty, immigration and environment. We know who we must serve.

The first reading depicts the kingship of Cyrus the Persian who liberated the Jews from their Babylonian captivity. God uses the goodness of world leaders to further the presence of God’s Kingdom. This week, we pray that all world leaders could come to serve their people rather than wish to be served by them.

First Reading

(Isaiah 45: 1,4-6)

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel, my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10)

R. Give the Lord glory and honor.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.

Worship the LORD, in holy attire;
tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations: The LORD is king,
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.

Second Reading

(I Thessalonians 1: 1-5b)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace.
We give thanks to God always for all of you,
remembering you in our prayers,
unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love
and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father,
knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God,
how you were chosen.
For our gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. 

Gospel

(Mathew 22: 15-21)

The Pharisees went off
and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,
“Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion,
for you do not regard a person’s status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax.”
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”
They replied, “Caesar’s.”
At that he said to them,
“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”