Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
A New Heaven And A New Earth
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
2 Peter deals with the problem of the delay of the coming of Christ. The old world has to give way to a new heaven and a new earth. But the concept of time does not exist for God, and the patient God gives us time for conversion.
Sometimes the Church is accused of meddling in politics and state affairs. But the Church has to raise a prophetic voice to form consciences regarding the moral aspects of political, social, and economic questions, to ensure that the laws of God and the people’s human rights and dignity are respected. A good Christian must be a good citizen and fulfil his responsibilities toward the human community.
Opening Prayer
Lord, mighty God,
You lead the world and all humanity
to their destiny in you.
Give to the leaders of the world and of our country
a vision of the future
That is both imaginative and realistic
and respectful of human rights and dignity.
Help us bear witness in everyday life
to the values of the gospel
and to be involved in the work
of freedom, integrity and justice.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
as you await the day of God and long for its arrival, when the heavens will dissolve in fire, and the elements will melt with fire.
But we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign as God has promised.
Therefore, beloved, as you wait in anticipation for this, strive to ensure that God finds you rooted in peace, without blemish or fault.
And remember that God’s patience is for our salvation, as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom given to him.
So then, dearly loved, as you have been warned, be careful, lest those who have gone astray deceive you and lead you astray, causing you to stumble and ultimately fall away.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 and 16
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Seventy is the sum of our years,
or eighty, if we are strong,
And most of them are fruitless toil,
for they pass quickly and we drift away.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
About Paying Tribute to Caesar
They sent some Pharisees and members of Herod’s party to Jesus, planning to trap him with his own words.
They approached and said:
“Teacher, we know that you are truthful; you are not influenced by anyone, and your answers do not change based on who is listening, but you truly teach God’s way. Tell us, is it against the law to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not?”
But Jesus saw through their trick and answered:
“Why are you testing me? Bring me a silver coin and let me see it.”
They brought one to him, and Jesus asked:
“Whose image is this and whose name?”
They replied: “Caesar’s.”
So Jesus said to them:
“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”
And they were completely astonished.
Prayers of the Faithful
– We pray that justice, love, and responsible freedom serve as the foundation of social order worldwide and in our country, so that all people can live in peace and security.
–We pray that all citizens develop a strong sense of civic responsibility and actively contribute to the common welfare.
– That the Church in our nation may bear witness to God’s kingdom to all the nations of Asia; that our country may play an honourable role in the family of nations and collaborate towards world peace and unity, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we bring this bread and wine before you
as signs in which your Son Jesus Christ
relives his commitment to us.
May they also become the signs
of our responsibility toward our human community,
that with your Son we may be ready
to bear witness to the values of the gospel
and how these can lead society
to greater peace, love, and friendship.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
You are about to send your people
gathered here around your Son
back to the human city
to join forces with all
to build up the city of God as a leaven in the dough.
Make us sensitive to the needs of others
and help us to give to all equal chances in life,
to build up communities of friendship and love
and to warm the earth
with a touch of your gentleness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
In this eucharist, we have given thanks and praise to God not only as his people but also in the name of all humanity. May we fulfil our task of imbuing this world with the values of the gospel, and may God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Mk 12:13-17
You are in God’s image; you belong to God
Judea and Samaria had been under direct Roman rule, and the census tax had been imposed on them. This caused deep anger and resentment among the people. Should we follow the rule of the emperor or the law of God? Jesus teaches them that following the land's rules and regulations should not be confused with faith in God.
In the Gospel, those who wanted to trap Jesus ended up in the trap themselves. The question about taxes gives Jesus the opportunity to remind his listeners that one must give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God. The Church’s social doctrines teach us that we are part of society as we live in it, and we must comply with the just laws of the country where we are. It is also a way of bearing witness to our faith: to be responsible citizens.
The question they asked Jesus was a trap concealed under a layer of flattery. There seemed to be no way out of the dilemma because their plot involved deception on both sides. In the ancient world, coinage was considered the ruler’s property because it bore his image.
Mark presents the brilliance of Jesus when he asks them to show him a coin. This was a clever move. The detractors of Jesus calculated that if Jesus agreed to pay taxes to Caesar, they could accuse him of collaborating with oppressive Roman rule. However, since they had no resistance to using the Roman emperor’s coins, they were already collaborating with his rule. Thus, in their attempt to trap Jesus, they exposed themselves.
Jesus did not take a coin from his pocket but asked his opponents to show him a coin. This implies that Jesus did not use the coin. It came from his opponents. Thus, by possessing a Roman coin, they exposed themselves as collaborators with the Romans rather than with Jesus. This was a sore point, especially for the Pharisees. Because it carries the image of Caesar, all he had to say was, “Give this worthless thing back to Caesar.”
Then he added, “Give back to God what belongs to God.” Human beings carry the image of God because God has created them in his own image and likeness. “You were made in God’s image: you have his image stamped on you, just as this coin has Caesar’s image stamped on it. We belong to God.”