God and Caesar
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
MK 12:13-17
They sent some Pharisees and Herodians to him to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay? Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at. They brought one to him and he said to them, Whose image and inscription is this? They replied to him, Caesar’s. So Jesus said to them, Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. They were utterly amazed at him.
Grace Prayed For
I pray for the grace of a heart fully surrendered to my Baptismal Mission.
Reflection
Living out our Baptismal Mission requires a constant return to the source of our strength: the Word of God. In this reading, MK 12:13-17, we are challenged to see the world through the eyes of faith. Prayer: We must begin each day in conversation with the Lord. Like the figures in the Gospel, we often have questions or burdens. Bringing these to prayer allows the Holy Spirit to align our hearts with the Father’s will. It is in this silence that our mission is born. Community: Our baptism incorporates us into a body. We are not solitary agents of the Gospel. Whether we are facing ‘tenants’ who reject the message or ‘scribes’ who test us, we rely on the support and wisdom of our faith community. To incorporate this, seek out a spiritual friend this week to share the fruits of your reflection. Mission: Every encounter is an opportunity for mission. We are sent to ‘repay to God what belongs to God’—which is our very selves. Our mission is to be a living cornerstone in our families and workplaces, bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel through both word and deed. By doing so, we fulfill the Great Commission and bring the light of Pentecost into the month of June.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post