Message from Fr. Brito:

29th Sunday Year A

     Today’s first reading presents us with the anointing of a foreign king. Cyrus the great king was an unlikely advocate for the Jewish people. At this time the Jewish people were in exile. King Cyrus grants them freedom to return to Jerusalem where they are given permission to rebuild their temple.  He goes as far as to help fund the rebuild of this sacred place.

     I think the point of this story is, if we pray for God’s guidance to be given to world leaders and local leaders, we will find that many who did not know God will begin to do God’s will. 

     Let’s now take a look at the Gospel. We have already seen in the past few weeks Jesus confronting the elders and their sin. Because of these confrontations and the fact that Jesus is pointing out the hypocrisy of these leaders, they want to get rid of him. That brings us to the trap they have employed to catch Jesus. They figure that whatever he says in answer to their question “ Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not, they got him.

     They try to set him up by praising him: “Teacher we know that you are truthful man and that you teach in the way of God according to the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion” 

Then they set their trap, but they have met their match, as did Satan.

           “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not”

           The brilliance of Jesus is shown forth in his response.

         “Show me the coin that pays the census tax”

Now Jesus turns the question to them. 

          “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”

These are the same people who, when Jesus is presented to them as King, exclaim: “We have no king but Caesar!”

      “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”

They reply: 

       "Caesar’s”

Than comes his brilliant answer: 

        "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God”

      Now we can ask ourselves what belongs to God? Caesar’s Image and inscription is on the coin, but God’s image and likeness in on us. God made them male and female in his image and likeness. We belong to God and thus we are to give ourselves totally in service to God. 

This is what we said in the Psalm:

      “Give the Lord Glory and honor”

Amen