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Catholic Sunday Scripture Study, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
10/12/2011 10:44:26 PM
October 16, 2011
First Reading:
Isaiah45: 1, 4 - 6
1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name,
I surname you, though you do not know me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you,
though you do not know me,
6 that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is
none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 96: 1, 3 - 5, 7 - 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.
Second Reading:
1 Thessalonians 1:1 - 5
1 Paul, Silva'nus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalo'nians in
God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in
our prayers,
3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of
love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you;
5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in
the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved
to be among you for your sake.
Gospel:
Matthew 22:15-21
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk.
16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying,
"Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care
for no man; for you do not regard the position of men.
17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin.
20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the
things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Overview of the Gospel:
* This Sunday’s Gospel finds Jesus in Jerusalem just days before his Passion.
He continues to offer his opponents a chance to repent until the very end, even as
they conspire on how to destroy him.
* Taking common cause with the Pharisees, another group, “the Herodians,” join the
conspiracy against Jesus. This group (mentioned in the Scriptures only twice in Mark,
and once in Matthew) were supporters of King Herod. They were comfortable with the
Roman occupation that kept Herod in power and from which they profited
economically.
* The Pharisees, on the other hand, despised the Romans and Herod,
and advocated passive resistance to their rule. Two more unlikely allies could
hardly be imagined.
* After insincerely trying to flatter Jesus (verse 16), the Pharisees and the
disciples of the Herodians attempt to trick him into making a damaging statement
(verse 17). If Jesus had answered, “Pay the tax,” the Pharisees would use it to
discredit him before the people as a traitor to the Jews. Had he said,
“Don’t pay the tax,” the Herodians would have turned him into the Romans as
one advocating insurrection (as it turns out, even though he says the opposite,
he was falsely accused of this at his trial; see Luke 23:2).
QUESTIONS:
· In the 1st Reading, we hear about Cyrus, the king of Persia and the most powerful
man in the world of his time. It would be he to issue the decree releasing the Jews
from their exile in Babylon to return to their land. From where does this great king’s
power come?
· In the 2nd Reading, Paul reminds of their chosen state before God (verse 4)?
What are the fruits that Paul sees in their lives to confirm this call (v 3, 5)?
Where are the fruits in our lives?
· In the Gospel Reading, why do the Herodians (allied to Rome) and the Pharisees
(admired and influential religious separatists) make strange partners?
How is Jesus a threat to each?
· What would the social or political consequences have been if Jesus had simply
said “Pay Caesar”? If he had said “Don’t pay Caesar”?
· What does Jesus mean by his answer (verse 21)? What should we give to God?
· What is Jesus teaching about the relationship between Church and State?
Which obligation is primary? Why?
· In your life, what belongs to Caesar? To God? How well are you giving to each?
What prevents you from giving to God what is God’s?
More study resources here.
First Reading:
Isaiah45: 1, 4 - 6
1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name,
I surname you, though you do not know me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you,
though you do not know me,
6 that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is
none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 96: 1, 3 - 5, 7 - 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.
Second Reading:
1 Thessalonians 1:1 - 5
1 Paul, Silva'nus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalo'nians in
God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in
our prayers,
3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of
love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you;
5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in
the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved
to be among you for your sake.
Gospel:
Matthew 22:15-21
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk.
16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying,
"Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care
for no man; for you do not regard the position of men.
17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin.
20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the
things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Overview of the Gospel:
* This Sunday’s Gospel finds Jesus in Jerusalem just days before his Passion.
He continues to offer his opponents a chance to repent until the very end, even as
they conspire on how to destroy him.
* Taking common cause with the Pharisees, another group, “the Herodians,” join the
conspiracy against Jesus. This group (mentioned in the Scriptures only twice in Mark,
and once in Matthew) were supporters of King Herod. They were comfortable with the
Roman occupation that kept Herod in power and from which they profited
economically.
* The Pharisees, on the other hand, despised the Romans and Herod,
and advocated passive resistance to their rule. Two more unlikely allies could
hardly be imagined.
* After insincerely trying to flatter Jesus (verse 16), the Pharisees and the
disciples of the Herodians attempt to trick him into making a damaging statement
(verse 17). If Jesus had answered, “Pay the tax,” the Pharisees would use it to
discredit him before the people as a traitor to the Jews. Had he said,
“Don’t pay the tax,” the Herodians would have turned him into the Romans as
one advocating insurrection (as it turns out, even though he says the opposite,
he was falsely accused of this at his trial; see Luke 23:2).
QUESTIONS:
· In the 1st Reading, we hear about Cyrus, the king of Persia and the most powerful
man in the world of his time. It would be he to issue the decree releasing the Jews
from their exile in Babylon to return to their land. From where does this great king’s
power come?
· In the 2nd Reading, Paul reminds of their chosen state before God (verse 4)?
What are the fruits that Paul sees in their lives to confirm this call (v 3, 5)?
Where are the fruits in our lives?
· In the Gospel Reading, why do the Herodians (allied to Rome) and the Pharisees
(admired and influential religious separatists) make strange partners?
How is Jesus a threat to each?
· What would the social or political consequences have been if Jesus had simply
said “Pay Caesar”? If he had said “Don’t pay Caesar”?
· What does Jesus mean by his answer (verse 21)? What should we give to God?
· What is Jesus teaching about the relationship between Church and State?
Which obligation is primary? Why?
· In your life, what belongs to Caesar? To God? How well are you giving to each?
What prevents you from giving to God what is God’s?
More study resources here.
10/15/2011 10:32:15 PM
Render Unto Caesar by Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio
link
Despite their flattering words, they were trying to trap him, to force him into a no-win situation.
Consider the circumstances. They are living under the iron boot of a brutal empire which filled the earth with its idolatry. Patriotic Jews longed to throw off the yoke of the tyrants. They prayed for an anointed king who would free them from the Romans as David had freed them from the Philistines. Anyone advocating collaboration with the invaders could not possibly be the hoped-for Messiah. No, he would appear as a traitor. But on the other hand, anyone preaching resistance to Rome would be branded an enemy of the Empire and would wind up suspended from a cross.
So the Pharisees decided to put Jesus on the spot in front of the crowd. They asked him a question bound to get him into trouble one way or the other. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”
First of all, Jesus teaches us how to deal with a bogus theological question. He unmasks it for what it is, an effort to trip him up rather than an inquiry proceeding from a sincere desire to know the truth. And then, rather than letting himself be controlled and put on the spot, he takes charge of the conversation and puts the Pharisees on the spot. He answers a question with a question. “Whose head is on that coin that you have in your pocket, the coin that you are using to pay for the temporal necessities of life?” “Caesar’s.” Next Jesus says something that makes them think, much like he did with the men eager to stone the woman caught in adultery (John 8). “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar, but give to God what is God’s.” (Mat 22:15-21).
Jesus wins the battle. He transforms an attempt to make him look bad into a teaching moment recorded for all time, providing all peoples and ages with some very important food for thought.
Government is a fact of life. Rulers, laws, police, taxes. What should a worshipper of God make of it?
One thing Jesus points out to the Pharisees is that they participate in this societal infrastructure. They don’t live on a deserted island but are dependent upon the imperial system for everything from the food in the marketplace to protection from thieves. One rural community in the US recently celebrated their independence after seceding from the nearby township and its taxes. A few days later, they were unpleasantly surprised when the town trash trucks failed to show up.
Jesus says we can’t have it both ways–if we benefit from secular society, we need to support the infrastructure of society. This can take the form of taxes, military service, jury duty, and informed, conscientious voting.
On the other hand, Jesus says that we need to give to God what is God’s. This is the real punch line of the story. For God has given us everything. In fact, it is he who raises up kings and nations and through them provides for us. The Lord used the Babylonians to punish the stubborn disobedience of the kingdom of Judah. But when the time of exile was completed, God used the pagan Persian king, Cyrus, to break the stranglehold of Babylon and allow the Chosen People to return home. The prophet Isaiah even calls this unbeliever the messiah or anointed one! (Is 45:1-6)
But there are also times when political rulers overstep their authority. Sometimes, they demand to be worshiped, like Caesar did. Other times they attack human dignity, violating natural law which demands that innocent human life be respected and that liberty be protected. These are times when Christians have a duty boldly to insist that while Caesar is owed his due, we won’t stand by and silently watch him step on God’s toes.
Consider the circumstances. They are living under the iron boot of a brutal empire which filled the earth with its idolatry. Patriotic Jews longed to throw off the yoke of the tyrants. They prayed for an anointed king who would free them from the Romans as David had freed them from the Philistines. Anyone advocating collaboration with the invaders could not possibly be the hoped-for Messiah. No, he would appear as a traitor. But on the other hand, anyone preaching resistance to Rome would be branded an enemy of the Empire and would wind up suspended from a cross.
So the Pharisees decided to put Jesus on the spot in front of the crowd. They asked him a question bound to get him into trouble one way or the other. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”
First of all, Jesus teaches us how to deal with a bogus theological question. He unmasks it for what it is, an effort to trip him up rather than an inquiry proceeding from a sincere desire to know the truth. And then, rather than letting himself be controlled and put on the spot, he takes charge of the conversation and puts the Pharisees on the spot. He answers a question with a question. “Whose head is on that coin that you have in your pocket, the coin that you are using to pay for the temporal necessities of life?” “Caesar’s.” Next Jesus says something that makes them think, much like he did with the men eager to stone the woman caught in adultery (John 8). “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar, but give to God what is God’s.” (Mat 22:15-21).
Jesus wins the battle. He transforms an attempt to make him look bad into a teaching moment recorded for all time, providing all peoples and ages with some very important food for thought.
Government is a fact of life. Rulers, laws, police, taxes. What should a worshipper of God make of it?
One thing Jesus points out to the Pharisees is that they participate in this societal infrastructure. They don’t live on a deserted island but are dependent upon the imperial system for everything from the food in the marketplace to protection from thieves. One rural community in the US recently celebrated their independence after seceding from the nearby township and its taxes. A few days later, they were unpleasantly surprised when the town trash trucks failed to show up.
Jesus says we can’t have it both ways–if we benefit from secular society, we need to support the infrastructure of society. This can take the form of taxes, military service, jury duty, and informed, conscientious voting.
On the other hand, Jesus says that we need to give to God what is God’s. This is the real punch line of the story. For God has given us everything. In fact, it is he who raises up kings and nations and through them provides for us. The Lord used the Babylonians to punish the stubborn disobedience of the kingdom of Judah. But when the time of exile was completed, God used the pagan Persian king, Cyrus, to break the stranglehold of Babylon and allow the Chosen People to return home. The prophet Isaiah even calls this unbeliever the messiah or anointed one! (Is 45:1-6)
But there are also times when political rulers overstep their authority. Sometimes, they demand to be worshiped, like Caesar did. Other times they attack human dignity, violating natural law which demands that innocent human life be respected and that liberty be protected. These are times when Christians have a duty boldly to insist that while Caesar is owed his due, we won’t stand by and silently watch him step on God’s toes.
link
10/15/2011 10:38:03 PM
Audio Resources:
Caesar and God : Fr. Robert Barron
Caesar and the King : Dr. Scott Hahn
Food fo the Journey : Sr. Ann Shields
Caesar and God : Fr. Robert Barron
Caesar and the King : Dr. Scott Hahn
Food fo the Journey : Sr. Ann Shields
10/15/2011 10:44:45 PM
Foiled Again
Read the rest: here.
Christ the Lord Jesus is master of every situation. He recognizes hypocrisy and exposes it with the floodlight of truth. He steadfastly faces his enemies courageously, knowing well what they seek – to discredit him in the eyes of the people – but taking their challenge and beating them at their own game. In encounters like this, the Gospel reveals the power of Christ’s personality, the immense force of his intelligence, and the piercing lucidity of his wisdom. Such is the Son of God made man, such is this man who has called us by name and invited us to follow him.
Nevertheless, St Matthew continues to highlight Jesus’ refusal to humiliate his enemies utterly (which they deserved) or violate their freedom by forcing their allegiance; he keeps on inviting them to believe in him. Bearing with the hypocritical Pharisees yet again, he puts up with their underhanded ruse and gives a response that stirs even their hardened hearts to admiration. His language is no longer soft (he calls them hypocrites), because time is running short, but he still hasn’t given up on them. Again we see that the Lord of the universe is truly the Good Shepherd, no matter how stubborn the sheep.
Christ the Teacher The lesson Jesus taught his enemies twenty centuries ago still abides today: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. Every Christian holds dual citizenship, each with its own benefits and duties: our birth makes us citizens of an earthly nation; our baptism makes us citizens of a heavenly Kingdom. Christ commands us to live out both with justice and responsibility. The protection and public services rendered us by the political community rightly demand a response of obedience, gratitude, and active collaboration. A Christian should be the most engaged and dependable of citizens – unless of course “Caesar” tries to claim rights that belong only to God.
Nevertheless, St Matthew continues to highlight Jesus’ refusal to humiliate his enemies utterly (which they deserved) or violate their freedom by forcing their allegiance; he keeps on inviting them to believe in him. Bearing with the hypocritical Pharisees yet again, he puts up with their underhanded ruse and gives a response that stirs even their hardened hearts to admiration. His language is no longer soft (he calls them hypocrites), because time is running short, but he still hasn’t given up on them. Again we see that the Lord of the universe is truly the Good Shepherd, no matter how stubborn the sheep.
Christ the Teacher The lesson Jesus taught his enemies twenty centuries ago still abides today: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. Every Christian holds dual citizenship, each with its own benefits and duties: our birth makes us citizens of an earthly nation; our baptism makes us citizens of a heavenly Kingdom. Christ commands us to live out both with justice and responsibility. The protection and public services rendered us by the political community rightly demand a response of obedience, gratitude, and active collaboration. A Christian should be the most engaged and dependable of citizens – unless of course “Caesar” tries to claim rights that belong only to God.
Read the rest: here.
10/16/2011 10:16:10 AM
*In the 1st Reading, we hear about Cyrus, the king of Persia and the most powerful
man in the world of his time. It would be he to issue the decree releasing the Jews
from their exile in Babylon to return to their land. From where does this great king’s
power come?
man in the world of his time. It would be he to issue the decree releasing the Jews
from their exile in Babylon to return to their land. From where does this great king’s
power come?
Power of this great king, Cyrus, of course comes from God. Hello, past, present and future politicians of every nation. creed, color and stripe; take note where true power comes from! History tells us a lot about Cyrus.
This powerful king, Cyrus, has an absolutely fascinating history. It's worth exploring. Cyrus was the founder of the Persian empire and as King of Persia he led the overthrow of the occupation by the Babylonians of Syria and Palestine in 539 B.C. The name Cyrus means shepherd, in Hebrew the name is koresh. So we have the Persians, under Cyrus, beating the Babylonians (Assyrian Empire) with God's help. Funny, isn't it, how God uses people in his grand plan
Cyrus is mentioned by name in our reading today even though Isaiah wrote at least 162 years before Cyrus' birth! Wow! God, through his prophets, actually called out "Cyrus" by name even before he was born!
The Devil tried to defeat the prophecy however. The Persian king then in power had a dream that the son of Mandane (Cyrus' mother) would one day be the ruler of Asia. In his jealousy, he had the baby put away secretly, and Cyrus came into the care of a simple herdsman where he grew and became quite distinguished. When it was time for Cyrus to take the throne a Jewish prophet went out and found him by the Word of the Lord and brought Cyrus into the kingdom and to the capital and took him secretly into the palace. When the whole court was assembled, the prophet shocked everyone by bringing in Cyrus just at the right moment and he took over the kingdom from the wicked regent. Perhaps Cyrus had a signet ring, or a pendant, or something that proved who he was. For their help Cyrus then did a favour for the Jews, and released them.
Cyrus was known as a liberator who had a policy of restoring the images of captured gods to their original temples, which he often rebuilt. It is said that Cyrus was so impressed at seeing his name in the Jewish Holy Scriptures that he released the people in 538 B.C. to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Since the Jews had no divine image to place in their temple, he returned the sacred vessels of the temple which was looted by the Babylonians.
God's plan "rolled on..." way back then using Cyrus as a vector: a carrier or transporter of God's divine plan for us!
(in this recreation, Cyrus–from archaeological excavations and digs–– we can actually see his insignia or emblem on his tunic: the sun ("son") light, truth, warmth..which was his army's battle standard by which he conquered the Babylonians.)
10/17/2011 8:46:48 AM
That is fantastic as usual, BeNotAfraid! Thank you for your contributions to this thread each week.
Blessed be God forever!
Blessed be God forever!
