REFLECTION FOR TODAY
In detachment, the spirit finds quiet and repose for coveting nothing. Nothing wearies it by elation, and nothing oppresses it by dejection, because it stands in the center of its own humility.
-- St. John of the Cross
READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
(The Lord Appoints Cyrus)
1 The Lord has chosen Cyrus to be king. He has appointed him to conquer nations; he sends him to strip kings of their power; the Lord will open the gates of cities for him. To Cyrus the Lord says,
4 I appoint you to help my servant Israel, the people that I have chosen. I have given you great honor, although you do not know me.
5 I am the Lord; there is no other god. I will give you the strength you need, although you do not know me.
6 I do this so that everyone from one end of the world to the other may know that I am the Lord and that there is no other god.
Psalms: Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10
(God the Supreme King)
1 Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing to the Lord, all the world!
3 Proclaim his glory to the nations, his mighty deeds to all peoples.
4 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised; he is to be honored more than all the gods.
5 The gods of all other nations are only idols, but the Lord created the heavens.
7 Praise the Lord, all people on earth; praise his glory and might.
8 Praise the Lord's glorious name; bring an offering and come into his Temple.
9 Bow down before the Holy One when he appears; tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say to all the nations, The Lord is king! The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with justice.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
1 From Paul, Silas, and Timothy— To the people of the church in Thessalonica, who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be yours.
(The Life and Faith of the Thessalonians)
2 We always thank God for you all and always mention you in our prayers.
3 For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.
4 Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own.
5 For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good.
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21
(The Question about Paying Taxes)
15 The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions.
16 Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. Teacher, they said, we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God's will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone's status.
17 Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?
18 Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?
19 Show me the coin for paying the tax! They brought him the coin,20 and he asked them, Whose face and name are these?
21 The Emperor's, they answered. So Jesus said to them, Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.
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