Mass Readings
Reading 1 – Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm – Ps 95:1,3-5,7-10
Reading 2 – St Paul to the Thessalonians 1:1-5
Gospel – Matthew 22:15-21
Reflection
A pastor with a sense of humour was once asked how he divided with God the money he collected during his church services. “That’s easy! I just throw the money I collected upward. That which goes upward belongs to God. That which comes down to the ground belongs to me," he said.
Jesus responds to the shrewd question by the Pharisees in the Gospel of Mathew this weekend. They deliberately attack Jesus to put him down. But Jesus’s logical reply to them is so accurate and relevant to reflect on today. By saying: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” Jesus is teaching us two things: our loyalty as citizens to our country and above all our obedience to God.
He is the only God who created us and entrusted us to look after this planet that we are a part of. We, human beings are like stewards of this earth, who are accountable to our creator. Whatever we do for the sake of his creation on earth is greater in the eyes of God. In that way, our civic responsibility as a citizen is also a part of over all fidelity to the God of all creation. In one way or another way we can understand it during the present pandemic by strictly responding to government’s lockdown measures of Covid-19. Even though it is very hard for us to stay at home without any social gatherings with our dear ones, we strictly follow it for the sake of all who are trying to keep us safe in the community. We can honestly say that we have done our part so genuinely. So, let us be so proud as being called a good steward of this whole universe. In this way as psalmist says in the responsorial psalm, we ‘give glory and honour to our Lord’ who is our creator.
Gradually, we are beginning to open up again as per the new guidelines of Covid-19. Let us cherish the joy of celebrating the Holy Eucharist together and feel the presence of Jesus who is with us all the time. Let him guide us because He is the only one God whom we believe and follow. He affirms it in the second reading this weekend; God says, “Oh Israel my chosen one, that I have called you by your name, I’m the Lord unrivalled; there is no other God besides me.” Let us go and meet him in the Eucharist, whom we have been ardently desiring to receive in the form of holy bread and wine for a long time.
Fr Shymon Thekkekalathungal, Assistant Parish Priest