Oct 22 2023

First reading Isaiah 45:1,4-6

I have taken Cyrus by his right hand to subdue nations before him

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,

whom he has taken by his right hand

to subdue nations before him

and strip the loins of kings,

to force gateways before him

that their gates be closed no more:

‘It is for the sake of my servant Jacob,

of Israel my chosen one,

that I have called you by your name,

conferring a title though you do not know me.

I am the Lord, unrivalled;

there is no other God besides me.

Though you do not know me, I arm you

that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun

that, apart from me, all is nothing.’

Responsorial Psalm 95(96):1,3-5,7-10

Give the Lord glory and power.

O sing a new song to the Lord,

sing to the Lord all the earth.

Tell among the nations his glory

and his wonders among all the peoples.

The Lord is great and worthy of praise,

to be feared above all gods;

the gods of the heathens are naught.

It was the Lord who made the heavens,

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,

give the Lord glory and power;

give the Lord the glory of his name.

Bring an offering and enter his courts.

Worship the Lord in his temple.

O earth, tremble before him.

Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’

He will judge the peoples in fairness.

Second reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

We constantly remember your faith, your love and your hope

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction.

Gospel Matthew 22:15-21

Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar

The Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap Jesus in what he said. And they sent their disciples to him, together with the Herodians, to say, ‘Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in an honest way, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you. Tell us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, ‘You hypocrites! Why do you set this trap for me? Let me see the money you pay the tax with.’ They handed him a denarius, and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s’ they replied. He then said to them, ‘Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’

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To make other hearts burn

“One cannot truly encounter the risen Jesus without being set on fire with enthusiasm to tell everyone about him. Therefore, the primary and principal resource of the mission are those persons who have come to know the risen Christ in the Scriptures and in the Eucharist, who carry his fire in their heart and his light In their gaze. They can bear witness to the life that never dies, even in the most difficult of situations and in the darkest of moments” (Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Sunday 2023).

As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, let us recognise that we, in virtue of our baptism, are responsible for participating in Christ’s mission. Mission starts from us having a personal encounter with Jesus. When we truly experience Him, we carry His fire in our hearts and His light in
our gaze as we show people that He is the source of our love and that our faith in Him can empower us to live life with profound hope and joy, even in the midst of suffering. May our hearts be on fire and feet ready to set out to bear witness to a life that never dies, a love that never fails.

Reflective question:
Can Jesus count on me to be part of His mission?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.