Readings for Sunday, October 22nd, 2023
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 145
Qari tad-Disgħa u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena
Reading 1 ISAIAH 45:1, 4-6
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other.
Qari 1 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 45, 1. 4-6
Dan jgħid il-Mulej dwar il-midluk tiegħu, dwar Ċiru: “Lilu qbadt minn idu l-leminija biex inrażżan il-ġnus quddiemu u nħoll il-ħżiem ta’ ġenbejn is-slaten; niftaħ il-bibien quddiemu u ebda bieb ma jibqa’ magħluq.Minħabba Ġakobb, il-qaddej tiegħi, u Iżrael, il-maħtur tiegħi, jien sejjaħtlek b’ismek. Tajtek isem ta’ ġieħ għad li lanqas tafni. Jien il-Mulej, m’hemmx ieħor ħliefi, m’hemmx Alla ieħor għajri. Jien ħażżimtek għad li lanqas tafni, biex mnejn titla’ x-xemx safejn tinżel, il-bnedmin jagħrfu li m‘hemm ħadd ħliefi. Jiena l-Mulej, m’hemmx ieħor ħliefi. “ Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
Responsorial Psalm PSALM 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Give the Lord glory and honour.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. Give the Lord glory and honour.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts.
R. Give the Lord glory and honour.
Worship the LORD, in holy attire;
tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations: The LORD is king,
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Give the Lord glory and honour.
SALM RESPONSORJALI Salm 95 (96), 1.3.4-5.7-8.9-10a.c
R/. (7b): Agħtu lill-Mulej sebħ u qawwa
għannu lill-Mulej fl-art kollha!
Xandru fost il-ġnus is-sebħ tiegħu,
fost il-popli kollha l-għeġubijiet tiegħu. R/.
Għax kbir il-Mulej, ta’ min ifaħħru ħafna,
tal-biża’ aktar mill-allat kollha.
Għax kollha frugħa l-allat tal-popli;
Jaħweh hu li għamel is-smewwiet! R/.
Agħtu lill-Mulej, familji tal-popli,
agħtu lill-Mulej sebħ u qawwa;
agħtu lill-Mulej is-sebħ ta’ ismu!
Ġibulu l-offerti, u idħlu fil-btieħi tat-tempju tiegħu. R/.
Inxteħtu quddiem il-Mulej b’tiżjin qaddis,
triegħdu quddiemu, nies kollha tal-art!
Għidu fost il-ġnus: “Il-Mulej isaltan!”.
Hu li jiġġudika l-popli bis-sewwa. R/.
Reading 2 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-5b
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.
QARI 2 Bidu tal-Ewwel Ittra lit-Tessalonkin 1, 1-5b
Pawlu u Silvanu u Timotju lill-knisja ta’ Tessalonika f’Alla l-Missier u l-Mulej Ġesù Kristu: grazzja lilkom u sliem. Aħna kull ħin niżżu ħajr lil Alla minħabba fikom ilkoll, u niftakru fikom dejjem meta nitolbu. Niftakru fil-ħidma li hi ġejja mill-fidi tagħkom u fit-taħbit li ħiereġ minn imħabbitkom; niftakru fil-qawwa tat-tama tagħkom f’Sidna Ġesù Kristu quddiem Alla Missierna. Aħna nafu, ħuti, li Alla jħobbkom u għażilkom. Għax l-Evanġelju tagħna lilkom ma kienx biss bil-kliem, imma wkoll bil-qawwa, bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u b’persważjoni sħiħa. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
Gospel 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."
EVANĠELJU Qari skond San Mattew 22, 15-21
F’dak iż-żmien, il-Fariżej marru u bdew jiftiehmu bejniethom biex jaraw kif jonsbuh b’xi kelma. U bagħtulu d-dixxipli tagħhom ma’ xi Erodjani u qalulu: “Mgħallem, aħna nafu li int raġel tħobb is-sewwa, u li t-triq ta’ Alla tgħallimha kif tassew hi, bla ma tħabbel rasek minn ħadd, għax int lejn wiċċ ħadd ma tħares. Għidilna ħaġa, mela: Int x’jidhirlek? Sewwa jew le li wieħed iħallas it-taxxa lil Ċesari?”. Imma Ġesù għaraf il-ħażen ta’ moħħhom, u qalilhom: “Għaliex tridu ġġarrbuni, ja wċuħ b’oħra? Uruni l-munita tax-taxxa”. Urewh dinar, u Ġesù staqsiehom: “Ta’ min huma dan il-wiċċ u din il-kitba?”. Qalulu: “Ta’ Ċesari!”. Imbagħad qalilhom: “Mela agħtu lil Ċesari dak li hu ta’ Ċesari, u lil Alla dak li hu ta’ Alla”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tony Kadavil
Introduction:
The common theme of Sunday’s readings is the nature of our obligations to God and to our country. The readings show us how, with God’s help, we can be ideal citizens of both earth and Heaven.
Scripture lessons summarized:
In the first reading, Isaiah the prophet foretells how, without of the great Persian Emperor Cyrus’ intention, his policies would be made part of God’s saving plan for His chosen people. Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 96) reminds us that when people put God’s Kingdom first, everyone benefits. In the second reading, Paul praises his converts in Thessalonica for their fidelity to God and to Christ His Son, “our Lord Jesus Christ,” and for their practice, with the help of the Holy Spirit, of the Theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.
In the Gospel, Jesus escapes from the trap in the question, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” by instructing those who questioned him, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” With this answer, Jesus reminds his questioners that, if they are so concerned and careful about paying taxes to the state, they should be much more concerned and careful about their service to God and their obligations to Him as their Creator and Lord. We fulfill our duties to our country by loyally obeying the just laws of the State and working for the welfare of all citizens. We become good Heavenly citizens by obeying God’s laws.
Life messages:
1) We need to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s”: How? It is the duty of Christians, as citizens of the country, to pay for the services and the privileges that government provides, like paved roads, police and fire departments, banks, schools, and other necessities. If we refuse to pay taxes, how will these needs be met? Another way of “giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s” is to participate actively in the running of the government, electing the most suitable candidates and influencing them through frequent contacts. Third, we must submit to the civil authorities and respect the just laws of our country in order to live in peace. As loyal citizens, we must also see to it that our elected representatives are faithful in maintaining law and order in the country and in promoting the welfare of all its citizens without violating God’s laws.
2) We need to “give to God what is God’s.” How? Since everything is God’s, we must give ourselves to Him 100%, not just 10% on Sundays. We should be generous in fulfilling our Sunday obligations, and we should find time every day for prayer and worship in the family, for the reading of the Bible and the proper training of our children in Faith and morals. We are invited each year to make a stewardship pledge of our financial offering to the local Church for the coming year. Our contribution to the parish Church should be an expression of our gratitude to God, giving back to God all that He has given us. Active participation in the various ministries of the parish is an offering to God of our time and talents, yet another way of giving to God His due, our whole self.
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