Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 22 October 2023 Homily for 22 October 2023 – Sunday
First Reading: Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6
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. (4)
King Cyrus was a Persian who decreed that the Jews be set free! The Persian ruler becomes God’s instrument to deliver Israel from Babylonian captivity. Even as we pray for ourselves to find our ‘Cyrus’, we also pray for Israel today that peace be restored.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1, 3, 4-5, 7-10
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. (7-8)
Alleluia, Amen!
Second Reading: First Thessalonians 1: 1-5b
For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. (4-5)
Sts. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy address the church in Thessalonica and encourage them! In turn, they are motivating us too, 2000 years later! Some of us would try to understand the word of God with reasoning and logic. But it is God our Father who reveals himself to us! We cannot attempt this on our own. We need God to unravel God’s mysteries!
Therefore today, if we can even grasp a slice of the Gospel we must realize that we are blessed by God. To continue on our path we must attach ourselves to a catholic church-recognized community, where there is sharing of the word of God. We must pray for wisdom and ask God to reveal himself to us. We must be humble and repent of our sins. St. Paul recognized the chosen Thessalonians because they heard the word and accepted it. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that anyone is able to welcome the Word of God. The Thessalonians also witnessed the lives of the apostles among them. We can be witnesses for Christ through our works first and foremost.
We pray for wisdom, courage, and faith to pursue our path, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Gospel: Matthew 22: 15-21
So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. (16)
Sweet words, but beware where they come from! Christ Jesus handles these fake admirers with unmatched wisdom. In a world strewn with falsehoods, we must strive to sieve through the true feedback. We must not be discouraged, as we see even God was tested in this way.
In answering them, Jesus also proves them right that he is just to everyone and doesn’t show partiality. We learn that we ought to give to God what is God’s – that is everything! And we also must give to the authorities(ie) government/ rulers what is rightfully theirs.
We pray to Our Lord Jesus Christ for the Wisdom to discern and courage to act justly.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
