Readings
29th Sunday in Ordinary TimeIsaiah 45:1,4-6; Psalm 96: 1, 3-5, 7-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21
Homily Theme
Peace
I was very moved as I watched both the Global Rosary for Children and the later program for an International celebration of the Living Rosary on EWTN. I was filled with a deep peace as I watched. I rejoiced also in the knowledge that as Catholics we are the only Faith that can do this. Catholics can go to Church anywhere in the world and attend Mass or pray the Rosary together no matter what language it is done in.
As Catholics, it takes us three years to go through the entire bible on Sundays and two years if we attend Mass daily. We are a Full Bible Church but how many of us remember and actually live what we have heard at Mass? When we go to a restaurant we study the entire menu but we don’t eat everything on it. We pick an item from it and then we can remember later what we ate. So that is why I pick a word for you from the Sunday Readings, so that you can remember it and feed on it. Too many Preachers try to feed us with the entire menu so we get spiritual indigestion and forget what we have heard at Mass: when we forget it we can’t live it.
This Sunday, there are so many possible themes and words for us to feed on. The one word that stood out for me was Peace. The Jews greet each with the word Shalom but the Moslems say Salem. This is very common in the Middle East. Paul greets us with it in the beginning of today’s Epistle as he addresses the Thessalonians. Peace is much needed during our times of unrest and protests that we are experiencing now in the world and only God can give us this Peace.
In the Gospel today, the Pharisees are plotting to entrap Jesus hoping to take away His Peace but He is able to take away theirs by His Response. “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” This is true for us in our times also. As Christians and believers in God, we must go to Him always for the answers to our problems and seek His Peace. A Christian that does not have Peace is giving to Caesar what belongs to God. Don’t let anything take away your Peace this week.
During the Mass, before Holy Communion, the priest will greet all who are gathered there with the Shalom of Peace. May this Peace remain with you to give to others? God will always give Peace to all those who seeks His Will. The absence of Peace is a sign that you are not doing His Will. Now that you have a Word for the week, feed on it and share it with others, especially today as we celebrate Mission Sunday. This Sunday the Church reminds us of the need to evangelize: so don’t let anything take away your Peace as you endeavor to do so with family members and friends. May the Peace of the Lord be with you as you recall the Word Peace this week.