Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 19, 2014:

Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6
Psalm 96: 1, 3-5, 7-10
1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5b
Matthew 22:15-21

After three solid weeks of pointed parables directed to the chief priests and religious rulers, is it any wonder that today's Gospel begins,  "The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech"?

The Cyrus mentioned in the first reading was a Persian ruler who allowed the Israelites to return from captivity in Babylon. He was called by God for this role, even though he was not familiar with Israel's God. Any person can be an agent of God's mission, if they recognize and respond to the call.

If you've ever felt pulled between loyalty to two conflicting ties, perhaps the lesson of the Gospel is of some guidance. Living in the United States, with a strongly held value of separation of Church and State, there are times when the call to be a good citizen and the call to be a faithful Christian seem at odds. Perhaps it helps to remember the phrase on our currency, "In God We Trust".

• What do you find easy to entrust to God?
• What is hard to trust God about?

There is no Catechumenate this Sunday.

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 12, 2014:

Isaiah 25: 6-10a
Psalm 23: 1-6
Philippians 2: 12-14, 19-20
Matthew 22:1-14

An important thing to know about the Gospel parable is that wedding guests were provided with a garment. (that makes the king's actions at the end seem a bit less harsh, doesn't it?)

The first and second readings are wonderful in their imagery (Isaiah) and practicality (Philippians).  Deep down we know, we know that God provides for our needs. And the usual reality is that when we are content with what we do have, we find ourselves enriched in a variety of ways. Being of high or low status, wealthy or poor really has little to do with our worth in God's eyes, and in the eyes of any person of faith (we'd hope). Celebrating the goodness rather than calculating our fair share brings us to a deeper sense of feasting. Being able to enjoy what is offered rather than grasping for more is the beginning of that poverty of spirit that brings us into the fullness of the Kingdom of God.

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Gathering as Church.