Daily Readings - Sun Oct 22 2017

First Reading - Isaiah 45.1, 4-6

¹Thus says the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I hold, so that I may subjugate the nations before his face, and I may turn the backs of kings, and I may open the doors before him, and so that the gates will not be shut⁴For the sake of Jacob, my servant, and Israel, my elect, I have even called you by your name. I have taken you up, and you have not known me⁵I am the Lord, and there is no one else. There is no god beside me. I girded you, and you have not known me⁶So may those who are from the rising of the sun, and those who are from its setting, know that there is no one beside me. I am the Lord, and there is no other

Second Reading - 1 Thessalonians 1.1-5ab

1 Thessalonians

Chapter 1

¹Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ²Grace and peace to you. We give thanks to God always for all of you, keeping the memory of you in our prayers without ceasing³remembering your work of faith, and hardship, and charity, and enduring hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ, before God our Father⁴For we know, brothers, beloved of God, of your election⁵For our Gospel has not been among you in word alone, but also in virtue, and in the Holy Spirit, and with a great fullness, in the same manner as you know we have acted among you for your sake

Gospel - Matthew 22.15-21

Matthew

Chapter 22

¹⁵Then the Pharisees, going out, took counsel as to how they might entrap him in speech¹⁶And they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying: "Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and that you teach the way of God in truth, and that the influence of others is nothing to you. For you do not consider the reputation of men¹⁷Therefore, tell us, how does it seem to you? Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar, or not?¹⁸But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: "Why do you test me, you hypocrites¹⁹Show me the coin of the census tax." And they offered him a denarius²⁰And Jesus said to them, "Whose image is this, and whose inscription?²¹They said to him, "Caesar’s." Then he said to them, "Then render to Caesar what is of Caesar; and to God what is of God.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of God’s providence, the transformative power of faith, and the call to live as faithful stewards in both earthly and spiritual realms. The first reading from Isaiah presents Cyrus, a pagan king, as an instrument of God’s plan, highlighting that God can work through unexpected individuals and circumstances to fulfill His will. This passage reminds us that God’s ways are not limited by human boundaries and that He can use anyone to achieve His purposes, even those who do not know Him. The second reading from 1 Thessalonians expresses Paul’s gratitude for the vibrant faith of the Thessalonians, emphasizing that true faith is not just about words but about living a life of love, hope, and endurance, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to reflect on our relationship with the world and with God. Jesus’ response to the question about paying taxes to Caesar—“Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”—teaches us about the balance between our earthly responsibilities and our ultimate allegiance to God. While we are called to be good citizens in this world, our hearts and lives must belong entirely to God. Together, these readings invite us to trust in God’s providence, live out our faith with integrity, and prioritize what truly belongs to God. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we living as faithful stewards of God’s gifts, using our talents, resources, and time to serve Him and others? Do we trust that God is at work even in unexpected ways, shaping the world and our lives according to His plan? Let us strive to render to God what is God’s by nurturing a deep prayer life, living with integrity, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. May we, like the Thessalonians, be known for our work of faith, our labor of love, and our steadfast hope in Christ.