First Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6

Reflection:

This Sunday’s readings teach us about the relationship between God and earthly rulers, like King Cyrus in this first reading. Cyrus was the king of Persia, the world super power at that time. During his reign, the Israelites were in exile in Persia. Cyrus was a powerful ruler—the most powerful at his time—and the Jews were subject to him. He did not believe in the one true God, Yahweh. Yet, this passage illustrates how God worked through Cyrus to accomplish his purposes. Even though Cyrus was such a powerful king, God is more powerful. In fact, it is only because God allowed Cyrus to be in power that Cyrus could have that power in the first place. Thus, Cyrus’ power was a gift from God, even though he did not recognize it as such. In the Lord’s words to Cyrus here, He affirms that He is the one, true God (“I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me”). As the one, true God, He has given to Cyrus (and everyone else for that matter) all that He has. Without God, Cyrus would be nothing. God works through Cyrus to accomplish His plans, despite Cyrus not knowing or recognizing Him as the one, true God. In particular, God worked through Cyrus to free the Israelites and allow them to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. We learn elsewhere in Scripture that Cyrus issued a decree directing the Jews to do so and even provided them with the resources necessary to rebuild. Thus, God showed his power over even the greatest of earthly kings and evidenced that even secular rulers can serve His purposes.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b

Reflection:

Paul’s first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica is likely the first book of the New Testament to have been composed. Paul and his companions, Silvanus (also known as Silas) and Timothy, founded the church in the busy, Greek commercial city of Thessalonica in A.D. 50, about 20 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul likely penned this letter to the new church less than a year after its founding. After being kicked out of Thessalonica by some of the Jews after a short time there, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy continued their missionary journey, but they did not forget about the new Christians in Thessalonica, who were left to fend for themselves and deal with serious persecution for their new faith. Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Christians in his absence, exhorting them to live their newfound faith with boldness. In this opening to his letter, Paul speaks fondly of the Thessalonians, and affirms he and his companions offer constant prayers for them. He also reassures them of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:15-21

Reflection:

The Pharisees often tried to trip Jesus up in the Gospels. We see them here making one of their most serious efforts toward entrapping him. The Pharisees were religious leaders–teachers of the law. In this case, they even brought in their political enemies, the Herodians, to help in their plot. The Herodians were the political powers in Israel at this time. They were, in essence, puppets of the Romans, who had control of Israel and were enemies of the Jews. The question about the tax to Caesar was intended to put Jesus between a rock and a hard place. If he condemned the tax, he would be in trouble with the Herodians who could charge him with treason for opposing paying taxes to the government. If he condoned the tax, then he would be in trouble with the Pharisees for being unfaithful to Judaism and its opposition to the Roman oppressors for the sake of religious purity and national independence. 

Jesus saw right through their plot and responded in a way that avoided the entrapment. He asked to see the coin used to pay the tax. This “denarius” had the image of Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperor at the time, stamped into it. Jesus used the term “image” as a word play here. Because the coin had Caesar’s image on it, he pointed out it already belonged to Caesar. Therefore, there was no religious compromise in giving back to Caesar what already belonged to him. In this, Jesus also affirmed that as Christians we should fulfill our civil duties, like paying taxes. At the same time, he affirmed that our highest and primary duty is to serve God and give Him what is due. By using the term “image” and saying we are to “repay…to God what belongs to God,” Jesus revealed that we owe God everything. We are made in the “image” of God and, thus, belong completely to God. Therefore, we are called to offer our entire selves to Him.  

Application:

  • Jesus calls us in this Sunday’s Gospel to offer our entire lives to God because we are made in His image. Yet, our temptation is often to compartmentalize our lives—separating our faith from everything else we do. Reflect on how your faith can impact the way you live your everyday life, and think about what areas of your life, in particular, you need to let God come in.