October 19, 2014

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 men may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other.

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Responsorial Psalm: 96:1,3.4-5.7-8.9-10
Response: 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. (Response)
  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. (Response)
   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. (Response)
  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. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

   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 Reading: Matthew 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."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Paying tax to Rome would imply that he has taken side with the social force and acknowledged the Roman Empire. The Pharisees totally opposed Romans so also there were groups who opposed the presence of Romans in Israel and they were fighting against them. Since Jesus had not said anything about Romans they thought that he was on their side and hence they wanted him to answer openly and thus trap him.
   Jesus’ answer pulled the carpet from under their feet. They did not expect this answer from. They were trying to find fault with him. Jesus strongly rooted in God and for him God meant everything. Living in the society one cannot deny the society and the social and civil duties. That is why Jesus when prays for the Disciples in the Gospel of John, he would say that they (disciples) are in the world but do not belong to the world.