Tag: Year A

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Solemnity of All Saints

Picture from an outdoor mass with John Paul II in Victory Square, Poland, 1979

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Mass Readings

Reading 1: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Responsorial: Psalm 24:1BC-4AB, 5-6
Reading 2: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12A

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110120.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

All Saints’ Day is an opportunity to reflect on what it means to live as children of God. But before we get to that, let’s just do a little housekeeping, okay?

We don’t worship saints. Period. We worship God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All believers are part of the community of saints. Why do we call some “saints?” Well, it’s definitely not for their benefit. As St. Paul tells us, the saints have already fought the good fight, they’ve run their race, and they kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). And St. Bernard preaching in the 12th century said, “The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them.” <1>

So, calling someone a “saint” is really a church thing. Why? Well, in our society today, we honor all sorts of people, right? We might hold up athletes, or actors and actresses, or successful and innovative businesspeople. We lift them up as inspiration and maybe even role models. How many children have thought to themselves, “I want to be just like him or her when I grow up!”

The Church lifts of people and calls them “saints” as role models for all of us. Some are martyrs for the faith, probably not unlike the three believers brutally murdered outside the Notre-Dame Basilica in Nice, France. Other saints lived lives of heroic virtue. We are all called to be holy. Jesus tells us, “You are therefore to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). And the Second Vatican Council document, Lumen Gentium, devotes an entire chapter to the “Universal Call to Holiness”. <3> These saints are people who we believe made use of God grace – the same grace available to all of us – to help them in their quest for holiness.

Take for example the mother-physician Gianna Beretta Molla who in 1962 refused a life-saving procedure during her pregnancy that would have resulted in the abortion of her fourth baby. The Church lifts her up as an example of extraordinary faith and love.

Or take Blessed Stanley Rother, a priest from Oklahoma, who was murdered in 1981 in Guatemala. He had been recalled home but asked for permission and in fact returned to Guatemala despite the risks. In a letter to the faithful in Oklahoma, he wrote, “This is one of the reasons I have for staying in the face of physical harm. The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.” <2> He is not just a role model for priests. He is a role model for all of us who are trying to live lives of intentional discipleship or as Pope Francis would say, missionary discipleship.

The lives of the saints and their stories should inspire us and hopefully give us some ideas about how we can live our lives in pursuit of holiness. Okay, this is the background for today’s celebration.

Today’s reading from Revelation paints a picture of heaven and there are people from all over the world dressed in white robes. They are martyrs for the faith. “These are those who come from the great trouble. And they washed their clothes and whitened them in the Lamb’s blood” (Revelation 7:14). In our second reading from First John, we are called “God’s children” (1 John 3:2).

What does it mean to be children of God?

Our Gospel today comes from the Sermon on the Mount which instructs us as disciples, believers, children of God, about justice. But Jesus teaches that justice should not be restricted to a perfunctory level, but he goes to the heart of the matter. We strive to be holy as the Father is holy. <4> And the path of the disciple is not easy. Most of us will never be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice like those three believers murdered in Nice, France this week. But we may face ridicule from our friends and families. We might even lose friendships over our faith. Jesus tells us:

• In a highly polarized world, Jesus wants us to forgive and turn the other cheek.
• In a world that values the symbols of wealth and the latest new “toy”, Jesus wants us to live humbly and to give generously.
• In a world scarred by war and division, Jesus wants us to love our enemies and to work for peace. <5>

All of us disciples are caught in a balancing act between what we need to do in this world to provide for families and the call to holiness. Every saint ever named understands this tug-of-war. Maybe that’s one of the reasons the Church asks us to celebrate “All Saints” today, so that we are inspired by those who have already run the race and who were filled with God’s grace. You see, we are not alone in the struggles we face. Every generation of believers has faced their own time of trial. While we should never stop working for justice, it is reassuring to know that we are united in faith with our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout time.

Homework! Inspired by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions. First, when have I put more trust in this world that in God? Second, how can I live a simpler and more generous life?

I pray our homework will help us live our discipleship with greater conviction. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. Pentecost Mass for 300,000 people celebrated by Pope John Paul II in Victory Square, Poland, 1979. JPG file.

Notes: Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

<1> Saint Bernard, abbot, sermon (Sermo 2: Opera omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 5 [1968], 364-368).
<2> Beecroft, Mason (December 16, 2014). “Making the Case for Martyrdom.” This Land. This Land Press. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://thislandpress.com/2014/12/16/making-the-case-for-martyrdom/
<3> See Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, beginning with paragraph 39: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html.
<4> O’Neil and Black, The Essential Moral Handbook, 127.
<5> “Sunday, November 1 All Saints” the Word Among Us. Web. https://wau.org/meditations/2020/11/01/176958/.

References:
1. Anderson, Kelly and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2017. Kindle.
2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.
4. O’Neil, Kevin J. C.Ss.R. and Peter Black, C.Ss.R. The Essential Moral Handbook: A guide to Catholic Living. Liguori, Missouri: Liguori, 2003.
5. Williamson, Peter S. Revelation. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2015. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Seeing God in the beatific vision, 163, 1023, 1028, 2519
2. Heaven, 326
3. Poor in spirit, 544, 2546
4. Church as sacrament of unity of human race, 775
5. Heaven, 769, 1023-29
6. Celebrants of the heavenly liturgy, 1136-39, 2642
7. The new people of God, 1138
8. The seal, 1295-96
9. Revelation that we are children of God, 1692
10. Christian beatitude, 1716-24
11. Peace makers, 2305, 2330
12. Pure in heart, 2518
13. Confidence before God, 2633, 2777-78

Solemnity of All Saints https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110120.cfm
Lectionary: 667

Reading 1
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels
who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,
one hundred and forty-four thousand marked
from every tribe of the children of Israel.

After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”

All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.”
He said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

Responsorial
Psalm 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Reading 2
1 John 3:1-3
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.

Alleluia
Matthew 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12A
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

image of red ants pulling apart a black ant

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Mass readings

First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26
Responsorial: Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5C-10
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102520.cfm
www.deaconrudysnotes.org

My brothers and sisters, once again we are presented with the readings which totally speak to our situation today. Our world, at least in the west, is becoming so polarized. People – our own friends and families – are ripping other people apart on social media. We see that right now in the United States with the upcoming presidential election. But we also witnessed extreme polarization in the UK over Brexit. The great challenge for Christians is to resist – to not allow our church communities to be ripped apart by politics.

Of course, we have a responsibility to bring our faith into politics and business – to help people see beyond the problems of everyday life. Our readings today remind us where our true focus should be. But today’s readings also answer the question, “Why do we need a church?” Let’s get to it then!

In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us that because Jesus was successful in dismissing the Sadducees, the Pharisees decided to give a go (Matthew 22:34-35). So, one of them asked, “Teacher, what’s the most important commandment in the Torah?” (Matthew 22:36). Now, this really wasn’t a trick question as much as a test. Did Jesus have a sufficient understanding of the Law to teach it? <1>

Jesus replies with one answer stated two different ways. “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart and all your soul, and all your mind…[and] You will love your neighbor as yourself. The whole Torah (and Prophets) depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). How is this possible? If we believe that we are created in the image and likeness of God, and if we accept Jesus’ teaching that whatever we do for the least of these we do for him (Matthew 25:40), then loving God is the same as loving our neighbor and loving our neighbor is the same as loving God. I think the song “The Proof of Your Love” by King & Country explains this point more eloquently that me. You’ve got to check it out! I’ve got a link in the podcast to it. <2>

But what does this have to do with church? Do we really need a church?

There are at least two reasons we need to consider. First, Christianity is not some intellectual activity that we subscribe to after considering a series of arguments for and against. No! Christianity is a report. It is the Gospel – it is the Good News! But in order to “hear” the Good News, someone had to bring it to us. We are a community – we are a church – because someone at some particular point in time brought to the community the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ, or as Bishop Robert Barron would say, the Great Story of Jesus. What does Paul do? He brings the Good News to the people at Thessalonica, at Colossae, at Corinth, at Ephesus. Right? He brings the Good News to the people. Being a Christian means we heard the Good News from someone else, like our parents or teachers or friends or pastors. <3>

The second reason why we are a church – why church is central to the Christian life – is that the Gospel makes this extraordinary claim that my relationship with God is dependent on my relationship with my neighbor. <4>

How could someone born to a castaway and raised alone on a deserted island be a Christian? It’s unlikely for two reasons: someone needs to bring that person the Good News, and that person needs to be part of a community of believers. If you are not part of a community, how can you ever practice loving your neighbor?

Why is this so important for us today in our increasingly polarized world? We should be first Christian, then American or British or Swiss, etc. And somewhere way down the line, we might identify as Republican or Democrat, Tories or Labour, etc. Never party before God and country! Yet something is stirring the pot. It’s like putting some red and black ants in a jar. I saw this interesting image on social media. They’ll get along just fine unless you shake the jar. Then they’ll start to rip each other apart. As Christians who are challenged by today’s Gospel to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we need to ask ourselves, “Who is shaking the jar?”

My brothers and sisters, I am not advocating for one political point of view over another. I am advocating for “the Way, the Truth and the Life” that is Christ Jesus (John 14:6). As Christians we’re not supposed to rip our neighbors apart! No! We should be trying to help alleviate people’s anxiety by sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. We need to have the courage to point out the demons shaking the jar. We need to help lead people into the community of believers, not out of it. The Gospel today gives us quite a bit to think about before and after the upcoming elections.

Homework! Enlighted by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions.
First, what does the word “church” mean to you?
Second, do you remember who brought the Good News to you? How have you shared the Good News with others?

Perhaps our homework will help us lead the people we encounter away from polarization and back to the church. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

Notes:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
<1> Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 288.
<2> King & Country, “The Proof of Your Love,” YouTube, 14 September 2012, Accessed 22 October 2020, https://youtu.be/b-2dKOfbC9c.
<3> Himes, The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism, “Chapter Five: Church,” Kindle.
<4> Ibid.

References:
1. Eubank, Nathan. First and Second Thessalonians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2019. Kindle.
2. Himes, Michael. The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004. Kindle.
3. King & Country. “The Proof of Your Love.” YouTube, 14 September 2012. Accessed 22 October 2020. https://youtu.be/b-2dKOfbC9c.
4. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. The living God, 205
2. The Holy Spirit, 686-747
3. The Ten Commandments, 2052-74
4. The two love commandments, 2055, 2083
5. Moral life a response to the Lord’s initiative of love, 2061-63

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102520.cfm
Lectionary: 148

Reading 1
Exodus 22:20-26
Thus says the LORD:
“You shall not molest or oppress an alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.
If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me,
I will surely hear their cry.
My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword;
then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans.

“If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people,
you shall not act like an extortioner toward him
by demanding interest from him.
If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,
you shall return it to him before sunset;
for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body.
What else has he to sleep in?
If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate.”

Responsorial
Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives and blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

Reading 2
1 Thessalonians 1:5C-10
Brothers and sisters:
You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,
receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit,
so that you became a model for all the believers
in Macedonia and in Achaia.
For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth
not only in Macedonia and in Achaia,
but in every place your faith in God has gone forth,
so that we have no need to say anything.
For they themselves openly declare about us
what sort of reception we had among you,
and how you turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God
and to await his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead,
Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.

Alleluia
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law tested him by asking,
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

picture of ancient Roman coin with Caesar's image

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Mass readings

First Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Responsorial: Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-10
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5B
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101820.cfm
www.deaconrudysnotes.org

My brothers and sisters, it’s like God picked these readings for this election season. Of course, they were selected by the Holy Spirit, and I’m not sure we could find better readings for our consideration!

In the Gospel today, Jesus says to those sent to trap him, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21). There is a lot of meaning there for us! First, citizens are called to cast a ballot no matter how distasteful you find politics or disappointed with the process you feel. Our vote, in a way, is us rendering onto Caesar. Of course, this example overly simplifies politics, but I think it’s fair to say this is one way to look at it.

Second, we should be active in the process. It’s our obligation as citizens of faith to bring our tradition’s wisdom and to influence positive changes. There is a danger in engaging Caesar’s world. The risk is that we get sucked into the quest to wield power and influence. But as we discussed in All Things Catholic on October 7th, our bishops suggest that “We should not let the party transform us in such a way that we neglect or deny fundamental moral truths or approve intrinsically evil acts.” <1>

From my perch outside the United States, I see so much division in the country – even in our parishes. That’s painful to watch. Our divisions run deep. Why? Perhaps it’s because many of us have been sucked into the parties. Maybe people are being transformed by the parties and not the other way around.

Look, we’re Christian first. We have to be Christians first. No political candidate will stand with you or me on judgment day. We will be held accountable for how we spent our time on this third rock from the sun. The minute we can’t agree to disagree – the minute we can’t stand to be in the company of our brothers and sisters because of their politics – is the day we should recognize that something is terribly, terribly wrong.

We Catholics are Christians and our first and second readings give us some insight we should be mindful of. In our first reading from Isaiah, we hear that we are each of us called by our names (Isaiah 45:4). We are not called by our political affiliations. We are not called because our candidate is pro-anything. We are not called because of the size of our bank accounts or our retirement balances or the car we drive. We are called because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Period.

Our Catholic faith teaches us that being created in the image and likeness of God means we have a certain dignity. No one can take that away from us. No vote we’ve cast – no party we’ve supported. No one can take away our dignity if – if we reconcile ourselves with God. In six weeks, we begin Advent – a great time to be reconciled!

Paul reminds us that we were chosen. You were chosen. I was chosen (1 Thessalonians 1:4). That means you are worthy. How is this possible? Paul tells us that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we were set apart. We are not supposed to live our lives on the hamster wheel, chasing fortune and glory. We were chosen to help build the Kingdom of God right here, right now.

Paul says that Spirit came with much conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Do you feel convicted? Do you feel that you every fiber of your being is vibrating with the love of Jesus Christ for you and for everyone you encounter? When you look at yourself in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see yourself like Mother Teresa or more like a Wall Street tycoon? It’s easy to get caught up in the energy of chasing the next dollar, but I suggest to you that instead of chasing that which is Caesar’s, wouldn’t we be better off pausing every now and then and allowing God’s grace to rain down upon us and so that we can use this grace to reach out with love to make this a better world?

Homework! Inspired by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions.
1. During this election cycle, have I lost my temper and blown up at anyone instead trying to have a conversation?
2. Can I promote the attitude “agree to disagree” as a small way of promoting peace and justice?

I think doing our homework will help us right our course away from Caesar and back toward Jesus. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

Notes:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
<1> United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States, (Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2020), no. 14. Adobe Digital Editions PDF.

References:
1. Eubank, Nathan. First and Second Thessalonians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2019. Kindle.
2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Participation in the social sphere, 1897-1917
2. Duties of citizens, 2238-2244

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101820.cfm
Lectionary: 145

Reading 1
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
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.

Responsorial
Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
R. (7b) 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.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
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.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
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.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
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.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.

Reading 2
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,
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.

Alleluia
Philippians 2:15D, 16A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Gospel
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.”