This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, October 22nd is from 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. . .“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
“Some of the Pharisees seek to entrap Jesus. Had Caesar heard Jesus’ answer, he would have been pleased that Jesus’ followers could be counted on to continue to pay the census tax. But maybe we should ask: What did Caesar have that did not first come from God? All creation has its source in God. Despite all his power and wealth, Caesar stood in God’s debt.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Autumn 2023
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday Romans 4:20-25; Luke 12:13-21
Tuesday Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21; Luke 12:35-38
Wednesday Romans 6:12-18; Luke 12:39-48
Thursday Romans 6:19-23; Luke 12:49-53
Friday Romans 7:18-25a; Luke 12:54-59
Saturday Ephesians 2:19-22; Luke 6:12-16
Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles (Feast) – “Since there are two apostles named Simon and two named Judas, to distinguish them from Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot these two are identified as Simon the Zealot and Judas the son (or the brother) of James. Simon is surnamed the Canaanite or the Zealot, a name that probably alludes to a real association, or at least sympathy, with the Zealot movement that desired a revolutionary overthrow of the occupying Roman authority. Jude (Judas) is also called Thaddeus. According to tradition, both suffered martyrdom, and Jude became a patron saint of hopeless cases.”
SOURCE: Living with Christ, October 2023