READING OF THE DAY First reading from the Book of Isaiah IS 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.
Second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians 1 THES 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. GOSPEL OF THE DAY From the Gospel according to Matthew MT 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."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER Christians are called to commit themselves concretely in the human and social spheres without comparing “God” and “Caesar”; comparing God and Caesar would be a fundamentalist approach. Christians are called to commit themselves concretely in earthly realities, but illuminating them with the light that comes from God. The primary entrustment to God and hope in him do not imply an escape from reality, but rather the diligent rendering to God that which belongs to him. (Angelus, 22 october 2017)
S, FAUSTI - "What is Caesar's to Caesar and what is God's to God", Jesus answers the trap question they asked him. Whatever "obvious" answer he had given, He would have pulled the hoe on His feet. If he had said that he had to pay the tribute to the Roman oppressors, he would have turned against the people: if he had said not to pay, he would have turned against the authority. Your answer is not an elegant way of evading the question. Instead, you move the problem to another level. What does it mean to give to Caesar what is his and to God what is due to him? What is the relationship between the power of the "donkey" and that of the "chariots and horses"? the power of the Son of Man with that of the powerful of the world? What is Caesar's responsibility if everything belongs to God? It is important to keep two things in mind. First : God does not exhaust man from his responsibilities, He is instead the origin of them. Second: His power does not compete with ours. It is gift, love, service, not appropriation, violence and domination. The God of Israel is very different from the kings of this land, and so He wants them to be His children. From the very beginning He takes the defense of Abel: the weakest is right, not the strongest. But Cain is also his son, and he will be protected from his own violence as long as the power of violence lasts. The Christian recognizes civil authority, and respects it with loyalty in what it does good, organizing the coexistence of men. His service is from God, even if the way is not precisely so. But let there be no illusions, Caesar, the Christian is never an ally of power, but only of man. When power proposes itself as absolute and imposes a game against conscience, it will find rejection. Today this comes true, more than with people, with a system of consensus that the image on the coin, simulacrum of the beast, obtains from everyone, thanks to technology, which makes it omninvasive and omnidestructive, especially of the same consciences, from which it takes away warning and freedom. When little and big, rich and poor, free and slaves must have the mark of the beast on their foreheads and hands to enter the market, it is the moment of resistance and testimony, of perseverance and martyrdom. "What is of God to God" everything is of God. Not in the sense that He appropriates it, but that He gives it to everyone. That is why He is God! His power is known by the Son, He who has the same attitude of love and respect towards His brothers and sisters as the Father has towards Him. It is a power of meekness, gift and service. He lives with the power of violence, possession and dominion, and this conquers it without combating it, just as light conquers darkness, gift conquers robbery, love conquers selfishness. The trap that they have set for Him is actually the trap in which they themselves find themselves. In the end they will forge swords into plowshares and spears into scythes (Is 2:4). There will be no more violence and harmony will reign with all and among all (Is 11:6-9). Our history, before achieving victory over evil, will always be marked by the Cross of Righteousness. But here, already now, is the eternal life: to be a son who lives as a brother. To give to God what is God's means to live the freedom and fraternity possible here and now. The most impossible conditions lead to the purest and absolute witness: martyrdom. The Spirit will suggest to us, from time to time, what to say and do. Then we will know what to give or not to give to Caesar
READING OF THE DAY
RispondiEliminaFirst reading from the Book of Isaiah
IS 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.
Second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians
1 THES 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.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
MT 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."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Christians are called to commit themselves concretely in the human and social spheres without comparing “God” and “Caesar”; comparing God and Caesar would be a fundamentalist approach. Christians are called to commit themselves concretely in earthly realities, but illuminating them with the light that comes from God. The primary entrustment to God and hope in him do not imply an escape from reality, but rather the diligent rendering to God that which belongs to him. (Angelus, 22 october 2017)
S, FAUSTI - "What is Caesar's to Caesar and what is God's to God", Jesus answers the trap question they asked him. Whatever "obvious" answer he had given, He would have pulled the hoe on His feet. If he had said that he had to pay the tribute to the Roman oppressors, he would have turned against the people: if he had said not to pay, he would have turned against the authority.
RispondiEliminaYour answer is not an elegant way of evading the question.
Instead, you move the problem to another level.
What does it mean to give to Caesar what is his and to God what is due to him?
What is the relationship between the power of the "donkey" and that of the "chariots and horses"? the power of the Son of Man with that of the powerful of the world? What is Caesar's responsibility if everything belongs to God?
It is important to keep two things in mind.
First : God does not exhaust man from his responsibilities, He is instead the origin of them.
Second: His power does not compete with ours.
It is gift, love, service, not appropriation, violence and domination.
The God of Israel is very different from the kings of this land, and so He wants them to be His children.
From the very beginning He takes the defense of Abel: the weakest is right, not the strongest. But Cain is also his son, and he will be protected from his own violence as long as the power of violence lasts.
The Christian recognizes civil authority, and respects it with loyalty in what it does good, organizing the coexistence of men. His service is from God, even if the way is not precisely so.
But let there be no illusions, Caesar, the Christian is never an ally of power, but only of man.
When power proposes itself as absolute and imposes a game against conscience, it will find rejection.
Today this comes true, more than with people, with a system of consensus that the image on the coin, simulacrum of the beast, obtains from everyone, thanks to technology, which makes it omninvasive and omnidestructive, especially of the same consciences, from which it takes away warning and freedom.
When little and big, rich and poor, free and slaves must have the mark of the beast on their foreheads and hands to enter the market, it is the moment of resistance and testimony, of perseverance and martyrdom.
"What is of God to God" everything is of God.
Not in the sense that He appropriates it, but that He gives it to everyone. That is why He is God!
His power is known by the Son, He who has the same attitude of love and respect towards His brothers and sisters as the Father has towards Him. It is a power of meekness, gift and service. He lives with the power of violence, possession and dominion, and this conquers it without combating it, just as light conquers darkness, gift conquers robbery, love conquers selfishness.
The trap that they have set for Him is actually the trap in which they themselves find themselves.
In the end they will forge swords into plowshares and spears into scythes (Is 2:4).
There will be no more violence and harmony will reign with all and among all (Is 11:6-9).
Our history, before achieving victory over evil, will always be marked by the Cross of Righteousness. But here, already now, is the eternal life: to be a son who lives as a brother.
To give to God what is God's means to live the freedom and fraternity possible here and now.
The most impossible conditions lead to the purest and absolute witness: martyrdom.
The Spirit will suggest to us, from time to time, what to say and do.
Then we will know what to give or not to give to Caesar