Author: Antoni BigCuore *
Date: 15/10/2014
Time: 16.18 hours, Monday 4th.
Here are below the readings this Sunday, October 19 for our reflection.
First Reading (Is 45,1.4-6)
Reading the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
1Isto saith the Lord of Cyrus, his anointed: "I took him by the hand to refer people to your domain, double the pride of kings, to open all doors to your gear, and not to leave the lock gates.
4by because of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by name; I booked you, and you did not recognize me. 5I am the Lord, there is no other, besides me there is no god. I armed warrior you without recognizing me, 6to everyone to know, from east to west, that out of me the other does not exist. I am the Lord, there is none else. "
Responsory (Psalm 95)
- O families of nations, give to the Lord glory and power!
- O families of nations, give to the Lord glory and power!
- Sing to the Lord a new song God, / sing unto the Lord God, all the earth O / Manifest your glory among the nations, / and among the peoples His wonders of the universe!
-. Yeah God is great and greatly to be praised, / is greater and more terrible than the other gods, / because nothingness are the gods of the heathen / was the Lord and our God who made the heavens.
- O families of nations, give to the Lord / O nations, give to the Lord glory and power, / give Him the glory that is due His name / Offer up a sacrifice in their courts:.
- Worship Him in the splendor of holiness / whole earth shudder before him / Declare among the nations, "The Lord reigns!", / Because he judges the peoples with justice!.
Second Reading (1 Thess 1,1-5b)
Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians:
1Paulo, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, gathered in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace!
2Damos thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers always. 3Diante of God our Father, we recall without ceasing the performance of your faith, the effort of your love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4Sabemos, brothers loved by God, that ye are the number of the elect. 5bPorque our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also by the force that is the Holy Spirit; and that, in all abundance.
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - 22, 15,21
- The Lord be with you.
- He is in our midst.
- Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew +.
- Glory to you, Lord.
"At that time, 15th Pharisees made a plan to trap Jesus in his words. 16Then sent their disciples, along with some party of Herod, to say to Jesus, "Teacher, we know that thou art true, and that, in fact, teach the way of God. Do not let yourself be influenced by the opinion of others, for a man not judge by appearances. 17Dize us therefore, what do you think: Is it lawful or not to pay taxes to Caesar "
18Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "You hypocrites! That prepare me for a trap? 19Mostrai me a tax coin! "Then took her money.
20And Jesus said, "Whose picture and the description of this coin?" 21Eles answered, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render therefore unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
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A. BIGCUORE´S REFLECTION: In this Gospel we see two distinct situations: the temporal power and spiritual power. The Pharisees were always scheming ways to trap Jesus in contradiction to convict him before the Sanhedrin.
In this passage he makes clear. Whose figure inscribed in the coin? They respond: Cesar !. Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what is God's. And what is God? Everything, including the Cesar himself !.
The Pharisees were concerned to remain in power and enslave the poor, by imposing more than 600 laws and rituals, they themselves did not comply. They used the people as pawns and the person of Jesus constituted a real threat to their power. (Both who later killed Him, crucify Him on a cross!).
But Jesus makes it clear that YOUR MISSION IS SPIRITUAL. My Kingdom is not of this world !, says in another Gospel passage. But, does not omit to pay tribute to Cesar (temporal power) so that tells Pedro grab two coins that were a fish, and pay tribute by the Pharisees charged Him.
Similarly, it is the life of all of us Christians this world. We are in the world, but we are NOT the world !. YET to be happy in this earthly life (because heaven and hell start here), we must PRACTICE what the Master Jesus asked: LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL AND THE NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. RESUME THIS ENTIRE LAW AND THE PROPHETS !!!
SEE, JUDGE AND ACT - GROUP REFLECTION
0.1.That will be that in our jobs and in our communities, we are living as Jesus lived? (as the song says Pe.Zezinho?)
02.Como we are exercising our citizenship? In our cities, in our neighborhoods? We are acting in defense of social justice?
0.3.Pagamos (though unfair) taxes that the state imposes on us?
0.4.Como Christians know DISCERN and the temporal power of the spiritual?
0.5.Qual passage touched more intimately? Each group member expresses its view and then ponder it together.
(*) author is a Catholic Christian writer and communicator of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire planet. Meet his Living Well Blog - HTTP://antonibigcuore.blogspot.com and his poetic and philosophical link: www.recantodasletras.com.br/autores/antonibigcuore
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