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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10

R. (7b) Give the Lord glory and honor.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
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 honor.
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 honor.
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 honor.
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 honor.

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.

Alleluia : Philippians 2:15d, 16a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.”

 Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a profound and timely truth:
God is sovereign over nations, history, and human authority — yet He also calls each person to give Him what belongs to Him: our hearts, our worship, our lives.
• Isaiah reveals God working through unexpected people.
• The psalm calls all nations to worship the one true God.
• Paul celebrates a community whose faith is alive and visible.
• Jesus teaches that earthly responsibilities matter — but divine allegiance matters more.
The message is clear: We live in the world, but we belong to God.

Reflection for the Day

1. God works through unexpected instruments (Isaiah 45)
   Cyrus did not know God. He was not part of Israel. He was not raised in the covenant.
   Yet God calls him “my anointed.”
   Why?
   Because God is sovereign. He can use anyone — believer or unbeliever — to accomplish His purposes.
   This is a reminder for us:
   • God is at work even when we don’t see it.
   • God uses people we may not expect.
   • God’s plans are bigger than our understanding.
2. Worship belongs to God alone (Psalm 96)
   The psalm is a global invitation:
   • Sing to the Lord.
   • Give Him glory.
   • Bring gifts.
   • Worship in holy attire.
   • Proclaim His kingship.
   Why?
   Because “the Lord made the heavens.”
   Everything we have — breath, life, time, talent — belongs to Him.
3. Authentic faith is visible (1 Thessalonians 1)
   Paul praises the Thessalonians for three things:
   • Work of faith — faith that produces action.
   • Labor of love — love that costs something.
   • Endurance in hope — hope that perseveres through trials.
   Their faith was not theoretical. It was lived, seen, and Spirit‑filled.
   This is the kind of faith the world needs today.
4. “Give to Caesar… give to God.” (Matthew 22)
   The Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a political question. Jesus responds with divine wisdom.
   The coin bears Caesar’s image — so give Caesar what bears his image.
   But humanity bears God’s image — so give God what bears His image:
   • your heart
   • your worship
   • your obedience
   • your life
   This Gospel is not about taxes. It is about identity.
   We may live under earthly authorities, but our deepest allegiance is to God.

 Living This Word Today

Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Trust God’s sovereignty.
   He works through unexpected people and situations.
2. Worship God wholeheartedly.
   Give Him the glory due His name.
3. Live your identity as God’s image‑bearer.
   Give God what belongs to Him — your heart, your choices, your life.
   Let today be a day of clarity, surrender, and renewed devotion.

 Prayer for Today

Lord God, You are sovereign over all nations and all history. Teach me to trust Your plans, even when I do not understand them.
Help me give You the worship You deserve, and live as Your image‑bearer with faith, love, and hope.
Grant me the wisdom to fulfill my earthly responsibilities without ever compromising my allegiance to You.
May my life today proclaim: “You are the Lord, and there is no other.”
Amen.