A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Is 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.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
R. Give the Lord glory and honour.
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 honour.
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 honour.
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 honour.
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 honour.
Second Reading
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians Thes 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.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Phil 2:15d, 16a
Shine like lights in the world
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel
P: The Lord be with you.
P: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew MT
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
BIDDING PRAYERS:
Like the community of believers in Thessalonika, let us pray to be strong in hope and faithful in our labors of love.
Our response today is, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
- For all who are followers of Christ; may the faith of the church manifest itself through fidelity to the gospel’s call to conversion. We pray: “Lord, hear our prayer.”
- For all who are called to a ministry of teaching and preaching; may bishops and clergy, theologians and catechists perform their ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray: “Lord, hear our prayer.”
- For all who labour to free workplaces from harassment and exploitation; may this act of justice bear fruit for all employed in the workforce. We pray: “Lord, hear our prayer.”
- For the sick and suffering among us; may the anointing Spirit bestow upon them the healing and peace of Christ. We pray: “Lord, hear our prayer.”
God in heaven, there is no other beside you. Hear our prayers and help us to live in accord with the truth that sets us free in Christ, who lives and reigns forever.
