October 22, 2017: Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 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 a 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.” (Matthew 22:15-21)

Reflection

The trick is to strive to live our lives in balance.
We are part of the reality of our everyday lives and at the same time we are part of the spirituality of our everyday lives.
“We cannot be so heaven bound that we are of no earthly good.” (Dr. Oscar Lane)
In the words of today’s Collect prayer, “Grant that we may always conform our will to yours and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.” We hope to always be the image of God to all who see us and live our lives with the intention of doing God’s will at all time.
We strive daily to be balanced in both the spiritual and the earthly.

Action

This week list the organizations, ministries and services that your parish is involved in — all things spiritual and earthly, of the community.
Where can you become more involved in a balance of both spiritual and earthly?