29th Week in Ordinary Time
22nd October 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.
Psalm 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10a and c (R. 7b)
R/. Give the Lord glory and power.
Second Reading: 1 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, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. You shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 22:15-21
At that time: The Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Jesus in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Uncompromisable!
Guidlines: In life, there are different duties and interests. But God remains the highest priority{alertSuccess}
1. In today’s gospel, the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians pose a question to Jesus, “Is it lawful to Caesar or not”. Their intention was clearly malicious, so as to entrap Jesus in his speech. However, this brings to the fore a valid and existential challenge and struggle.
2. One great problem of today’s life and lifestyle is the tension between secular concerns and spiritual concerns, between the world and God and between earth and heaven. Sadly, often this tension leads to conflict as well.
3. The answer of Jesus is quite characteristic of his divine wisdom: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”. This indicates the right direction and action. This directive of Jesus makes clear some essentials for our life.
4. First of all, one should not pose earthly duties and godly duties as opposites or mutually exclusive. They complement each other. True dutifulness compromises both aspects, the earthly and the heavenly. One’s fidelity and obedience to his legitimate duties and authorities can enhance his fidelity and obedience to his spiritual duties and God, and vice versa.
5. Second, both extremes should be avoided. That is, in the name of fidelity to earthly duties, one should not fall into worldliness. On the other hand, in the name of spiritual duties, one should not fall into a shallow pietism.
6. Both are defective. The former, the worldliness neglects and fails in the duties toward God and the higher concerns of life, the non-material and the after-life. Worldliness becomes too narrow, short-sighted and earth-bound, reducing life only to the temporary and temporal. It seeks happiness in fleeting pleasure and gratification.
7. On the other hand, superficial pietism neglects one’s legitimate obligations toward family, society and responsibilities connected to work. It makes one evasive and non-committal leading to irresponsibility and escapism.
8. There should be clarity and no confusion. Priority should be to God and the spiritual. They are non-negotiable and non-compromicable. No amount of temporal duties should make one lay aside one’s spiritual duties. Similarly, no allegiance to any human authorities should come in the way of one’s submission to God.
9. Today, it is very saddening to note that God is pushed out of the lives of many. Many feel that they do not need God. They think that He is for the weak, the troubled, the poor, the needy and the irrational. Many presume themselves to be self-sufficient and autonomous. They try to manage their life without God. Today, “not to believe in God” has become a fashion and a sign of ultra-modernism.
10. It may sound naïve or primitive spiritualism. But the truth is, most of the ills and evils of the present world are due to the “missing” of this God-element. We must realise that God is not an alien or an other-worldly super-being.
11. True it is that there are some aberrations. There are some who domesticate God to some name or place. They reduce religion to some fanatical beliefs, rituals and norms. They hold to a spirituality that is irresponsible and uncommitted to one’s lawful duties.
12. The truth is that true God is with man and for man. True religion is humane and humanitarian. True spirituality is profound and oriented to higher ideals, values and pursuits.
Practice: We ought to rediscover and rejuvenate the lost touch of God and spirituality. It is to live a life that includes “work of faith, the labour of love and endurance in hope”{alertSuccess}