October 19, 2014

Reading

 

Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6

 

45:1Thus says the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I hold, so that I may subjugate the nations before his face, and I may turn the backs of kings, and I may open the doors before him, and so that the gates will not be shut

45:4For the sake of Jacob, my servant, and Israel, my elect, I have even called you by your name. I have taken you up, and you have not known me.

45:5I am the Lord, and there is no one else. There is no god beside me. I girded you, and you have not known me.

45:6So may those who are from the rising of the sun, and those who are from its setting, know that there is no one beside me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

 

Second Reading

 

First Thessalonians 1: 1-5

 

1:1Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:2Grace and peace to you. We give thanks to God always for all of you, keeping the memory of you in our prayers without ceasing,

1:3remembering your work of faith, and hardship, and charity, and enduring hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ, before God our Father.

1:4For we know, brothers, beloved of God, of your election.

1:5For our Gospel has not been among you in word alone, but also in virtue, and in the Holy Spirit, and with a great fullness, in the same manner as you know we have acted among you for your sake.

 

Gospel

 

Matthew 22: 15-21

 

2:15 Then the Pharisees, going out, took counsel as to how they might entrap him in speech.

22:16 And they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying: “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and that you teach the way of God in truth, and that the influence of others is nothing to you. For you do not consider the reputation of men.

22:17 Therefore, tell us, how does it seem to you? Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar, or not?”

22:18 But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?

22:19 Show me the coin of the census tax.” And they offered him a denarius.

22:20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”

22:21 They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Then render to Caesar what is of Caesar; and to God what is of God.”