Entrance Antiphon: Psalm 17:6,8Psalm: 961-5b
Reading II: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Gospel: Mt. 22:15-21
This week I would like to focus on
the virtue of trust in our readings. In Isaiah’s passage, the Lord is reassuring the anointed, Cyrus, that he is grasping his hand and is with him in all his endeavors. The Lord tells Cyrus that he has given
him a name; therefore, Cyrus belongs to him in a very special way.
The Heavenly Father is well able to care for him because of His almighty power.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he thanks them for their dedication to spreading the Good News. He affirms them saying that they were specially named and chosen by God and filled with the Holy Spirit. Their deep trust in God enables them to preach with conviction.
Jesus, the Son of God, is steeped in the tradition of His Hebrew ancestors and aware of His special calling. What comfort He
must have found in the words of Psalm 17:8 “Guard me as the
apple of your eye; in the shadow of your wings protect me.” The knowledge of support from His heavenly Father is his source of strength throughout his life.
With firm trust and a sense of security, Jesus could remain calm under the many challenges which his life and circumstances brought Him. One very notable example is recorded in today’s Gospel as He responds to the Pharisees who tried to entrap him in his speech.
Jesus could see right through his questioners. They start by flattering Him saying: “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” They then inquire: “What is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Jesus requests that they show him the coin that is used to pay the taxes. He asks them whose image is on the coin. When they respond “Caesar’s.” Jesus simply tells them: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”
The Pharisees had been hoping to discredit Jesus by asking a question which could cause him trouble whichever way he responded. But Jesus, having the confidence and trust in the support of his Heavenly Father, was able to calmly resolve the situation so that the evil plans were foiled.
Reflection: How can I develop such strong trust in our Heavenly Father that I can handle difficult situations well,
as Jesus did?
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Llamdo Por Nombre
Esta semana me gustaría centrarme en la virtud de la confianza en nuestras lecturas. En el pasaje de Isaías, el Señor está tranquilizando al ungido, Ciro, que está tomando su mano y está con él en todos sus esfuerzos. El Señor le dice a Ciro que le ha dado un nombre; Por lo tanto, Cyrus le pertenece de una manera muy especial. El Padre Celestial es capaz de cuidarlo debido a su poder todopoderoso.
En la carta de San Pablo a los Tesalonicenses, les agradece su dedicación a difundir la Buena Nueva. Él los afirma diciendo que fueron especialmente nombrados y elegidos por Dios y llenos del Espíritu Santo. Su profunda confianza en Dios les permite predicar
con convicción.
con convicción.
Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, está sumergido en la tradición de sus antepasados hebreos y consciente de su llamado especial. Qué consuelo debe haber encontrado en las palabras del Salmo 17: 8 “Guárdame como la manzana de tu ojo; a la sombra de tus alas, protégeme”. El conocimiento del apoyo de su Padre celestial es su fuente de fortaleza a lo largo de su vida.
Con una firme confianza y una sensación de seguridad, Jesús podía mantener la calma bajo los muchos desafíos que su vida y circunstancias le trajeron. Un ejemplo muy notable se registra en el Evangelio de hoy cuando responde a los fariseos que trataron de atraparlo en su discurso.
Jesús pudo ver a través de sus preguntas. Comienzan por halagarlo diciendo: “Maestro, sabemos que eres un hombre sincero y que enseñas el camino de Dios de acuerdo con la verdad”. Luego preguntan: “¿Cuál es tu opinión? ¿Es legal pagar el censo? impuesto a César o no?” Jesús le pide que le muestren la moneda que se usa para pagar los impuestos. Él les pregunta qué imagen está en la moneda. Cuando responden “de César”. Jesús simplemente les dice: “Dad al César lo que pertenece a César, y a Dios lo que pertenece a Dios”.
Los fariseos esperaban desacreditar a Jesús al hacer una
pregunta que podía causarle problemas de cualquier manera que
él respondiera. Pero Jesús, teniendo la confianza y confianza en
el apoyo de su Padre Celestial, pudo resolver con calma la
situación para que los malos planes se frustraran.
pregunta que podía causarle problemas de cualquier manera que
él respondiera. Pero Jesús, teniendo la confianza y confianza en
el apoyo de su Padre Celestial, pudo resolver con calma la
situación para que los malos planes se frustraran.
Reflexión: ¿Cómo puedo desarrollar una confianza tan fuerte en nuestro Padre Celestial que pueda manejar bien las situaciones difíciles, como lo hizo Jesus?
When I think about the people I trust, those who come to mind are ones I know well enough to feel comfortable and secure. My relationship with these individuals is the basis of trusting them. I trust others based on roles they play, such as clergy, police officers, physicians, and teachers. I trust that the plumber, auto mechanic, bus driver and the barista who prepares my coffee will perform their unique services according to an implied standard. I trust that the trees will once again bear leaves and fruits when spring returns, that my body will heal from an illness, and that my heart will mend after an important relationship ends. Wow, I trust a lot, so why does your reflection question feel so difficult to answer.
ReplyDeleteAuthor and speaker, Joyce Meyer, says that “Trusting God is simply believing that He loves you. He’s good. He has the power to help you, He wants to help you, and He will help you.” She references John 15:5 in which Jesus says that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Jesus wants us to lean on Him for help with everything in our lives. What happens when people rely on themselves? According to Meyer, “they usually end up desperately telling God how hard they’re trying to do what they need to do and they’re leaving Him out!” Oh, how I can identify with that behavior. She continues, “God wants us to put Him first in our lives. He wants us to put our confidence and trust in Him, all the time, in everything.” That is the level of trust that Jesus had in His Father.
Just as my trust in people is strengthened through developing a relationship with them, so too must I seek to have an intimate relationship with God if I am to trust Him with the same unwavering faith that Jesus demonstrated. Daily prayer is certainly one method of communicating with our heavenly Father. Reading the Bible is another powerful way to grow in trust of the Lord because it is His Word. I love what Joyce Meyer says of Scripture, “The Bible is food for our spirit. As we spend time reading and meditating on Scripture, we develop a strong spirit. Then we can hear God speaking to our heart – where He dwells in us - and make decisions based upon what He’s leading us to do, not just what we may think, feel, or want.”
You may have heard the saying, “Let go, let God.” I’d utter that statement often, unwittingly expecting some kind of happy magical solution to life’s problems. However, over time I have come to understand that it involves letting go of my desired outcomes and allowing God’s will to become evident. Seeing the hand of God in the unfolding of the situation has resulted in greater trust. I am usually amazed at the workings of God in my life.
Is trusting in God hard to learn? I close with a brief reflection from Joyce Meyer. “Life is simple and peaceful when we come to God like little children and say, “God, I don’t want to live on my own. I want to trust You. When I don’t know what to do, I’ll trust You. When I don’t understand why, I’ll trust You. I’ll do my part with Your help, and when I’m done, I’ll trust You to do the rest.”
Yes, a deep, firmly unwavering trust in God is absolutely essential in the spiritual lives of His children. Your suggestions and interpretations regarding the liturgy for this week are appreciated, Sister.
ReplyDeleteThe following excerpt is from a homily by Fr. Joseph Esper, Immaculate Conception Parish, Anchorville, Michigan:
"In his Sermon on the Mount,Jesus speaks very movingly about the need to rely on our Father's loving care. 'Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather worms, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of us by being anxious can add one cubit to his life? ...
Therefore, do not be anxious... Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and his
righteousness and all these shall be added to you as well. Matt. 6:25-27, 31-33.'
We are completely dependent on God's mercy and grace. We must trust that God wants to save us and that He will give us the resources we need to cope with life's challenges and to achieve our eternal destiny"
"Catholic Bible 101" advises as follows:
"A lot of people treat God as though he isn't there until something goes horribly wrong. If we totally trust God as our heavenly father AT ALL TIMES then we will have enough strength to overcome whatever evil we face. The next time you have to make a decision - any decision - give it to God and He will let you know the way you should go."