Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: October 22, 2023

Date in the Ordine: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Matthew 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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today from the Gospel of Matthew presents one of Jesus’ encounters with those who rejected him and wished to entrap Him with His answers. But the text does more than that. First, the words of the one sent to entrap Jesus tell us a great deal about our Savior as well as the type of person we are called to be as a disciple: “truthful” and unswayed by a “person’s status.” Jesus’ response also tells us much about who we are called to be as His disciples. His response is based on whose image appears. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar” admonishes us to be good citizens, civilly obedient, paying our taxes. And his words “Repay to God what belongs to God” has us search for the image of God which we know we bear because we are made in the “image and likeness of God.” Therefore, we are to give ourselves in service to our LORD as children of the Kingdom.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I test the LORD? Do I ask the LORD for signs when I should trust in the LORD, His truthfulness, His promises? Do I seek to live as a member of the LORD’s kingdom, as a child of the LORD, giving myself in loving service?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, we come before You this day full of praise for You, Creator, Savior, Sanctifier. We hold ourselves blessed by your eternal power and presence, manifestations of your great love for us and desire for us to live life in abundance with You. You made us in your image and likeness. Help us to recognize that gift and the calling that comes with it, to live as daughters and sons, as disciples, as instruments of your divine will in our world. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.