THE GOSPEL
Matthew 22:15-21“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”
Did Caesar create the stars?
Hurl them to the ends of the universe?
Can he make blood course through our veins?
Or craft a hummingbird or a
Gerbera daisy?
No?
Then
his coins can’t buy
what we really
need.
God,
Creator,
you are the one
whose face we seek.
The domain of love that
you give in grace and peace.
We are in your image.
Please take us
as your
own.
THE FIRST READING
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
It is I who arm you, though you know me not.
God,
you armed Cyrus.
You subdued nations under him,
anointed him, even though
he didn’t know you.
From the rising to the setting of the sun,
anoint us, and use us too, Lord,
to fix all that is wrong on our
planet and in our society.
When we know you
are using us,
and when
we
don’t.
