Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

I have taken the hand of Cyrus to subdue nations before his countenance.

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,

whom he has taken by his right hand

to subdue nations before him

and strip the loins of kings,

to force gateways before him

that their gates be closed no more:

It is for the sake of my servant Jacob,

of Israel my chosen one,

that I have called you by your name,

conferring a title though you do not know me.

I am the Lord, unrivalled;

there is no other God besides me.

Though you do not know me, I arm you

that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun

that, apart from me, all is nothing.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

Thus says the Lord to his anointed,

to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped

to subdue nations before him

and strip kings of their robes,

to open doors before him-

and the gates shall not be closed:

“For the sake of my servant Jacob,

and Israel my chosen,

I call you by your name,

I surname you, though you do not know me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

besides me there is no god.

I arm you, though you do not know me,

so that all may know,

from the rising of the sun and from the west,

that there is no one besides me;

I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 95:1, 3-5, 7-10 (JB)

R. Give the Lord glory and honour.

O sing a new song to the Lord,

sing to the Lord all the earth.

Tell among the nations his glory

and his wonders among all the peoples. R.

The Lord is great and worthy of praise,

to be feared above all gods;

the gods of the heathens are naught.

It was the Lord who made the heavens. R.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,

give the Lord glory and power,

give the Lord the glory of his name.

Bring an offering and enter his courts. R.

Worship the Lord in his temple,

O earth, tremble before him.

Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king,’

He will judge the peoples in fairness. R.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians

We are mindful of your faith, hope, and love.

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

From 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 always give thanks to God for all of you

and mention you in our prayers,

constantly remembering before our God and Father

your work of faith and labour of love

and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God,

that he has chosen you,

because our message of the gospel

came to you not in word only,

but also in power and in the Holy Spirit

and with full conviction.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Philippians 2:15-16 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Shine on the world like bright stars;

you are offering it the word of life.

Alleluia!

Philippians 2:15-16 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Shine on the world like bright stars;

you are offering it the word of life.

Alleluia!

Matthew 22:15-21 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and to God the things that are God’s.

The Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap Jesus in what he said. And they sent their disciples to him, together with the Herodians, to say, ‘Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in an honest way, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you. Tell us your opinion then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, ‘You hypocrites! Why do you set this trap for me? Let me see the money you pay the tax with.’ They handed him a denarius, and he replied, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. He then said to them, ‘Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 22:15-21 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

When the chief priests and Pharisees had heard the parables.

they realized that Jesus was speaking about them.

Then the Pharisees went and plotted

to entrap Jesus in what he said.

So they sent their disciples to him,

along with the Herodians, saying,

“Teacher, we know that you are sincere,

and teach the way of God in accordance with truth,

and show deference to no one;

for you do not regard people with partiality.

Tell us, then, what you think.

Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”

But Jesus, aware of their malice, said,

“Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?

Show me the coin used for the tax.”

And they brought him a denarius.

Then he said to them

“Whose head is this, and whose title?”

They answered, “The emperors.”

Then he said to them,

“Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the

 emperor’s,

and to God the things that are God’s.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.