29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
Give the Lord glory and honor.
1st Reading: Is 45:1, 4-6
Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus:
”I have taken you by the right hand
to subdue nations before you and strip kings of their armor,
to open the gateways before you
so that they will be closed no more.
For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen one,
I have called you by your name
and given you your mission
although you do not know me.
I am Yahweh, and there is no other;
there is no God besides me.
I armed you when you did not know me,
so that, from the rising
to the setting of the sun,
all may know
that there is no one besides me;
I am Yahweh, and there is no other.
2nd Reading: 1 Thes 1:1-5b
From Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonica, which is in God, the Father, and in Christ Jesus, the Lord.
May the peace and grace of God be with you.
We give thanks to God, at all times, for you, and remember you in our prayers. We constantly recall, before God, our Father, the work of your faith, the labors of your love, and your endurance, in waiting for Christ Jesus our Lord.
We remember, brothers and sisters, the circumstances of your being called. The gospel we brought you was such, not only in words. Miracles, the Holy Spirit, and plenty of everything, were given to you. You, also, know how we dealt with you, for your sake.
Gospel: Mt 22:15-21
The Pharisees went away, considering how they could trap Jesus by his own words. They sent to him their disciples, along with members of Herod‘s party, saying, ”Master, we know that you are an honest man, and truly teach God‘s way. You are not influenced by others, nor are you afraid of anyone. So tell us what you think: is it against the law to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
But Jesus understood their evil intentions, and said to them, ”Hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin with which you pay taxes.”
They showed him a silver coin, and Jesus said to them, ”Whose head is this, and whose name?” They answered, ”Caesar‘s.” Then Jesus replied, ”So give to Caesar what is Caesar‘s, and give to God what is God‘s.”
REFLECTION:
Read: Even when we do not know God, God knows us through and through. Paul invites Thessalonians to keep memory of their divine call. Jesus settles the question on paying taxes to Caesar.
Reflect: Jesus settles the question on taxes by verifying the engraved image on the coin. It was Caesar‘s, and Jesus tells them to pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. If one were to settle the question as to whom our lives belong, one must look at the engraved image in our souls – whose would it be? Caesar‘s or God‘s who has shaped, known, and called us even before we were born? Let us give to God what belongs to God – our very lives.
Pray: We shall pray for a true sense of belongingness to God and His Kingdom.
Act: Draw up a spiritual will and testament for yourself.
Daily Reflection
Daily Gospel ® is a product Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.
CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.
Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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