Commentary: 29th Sun. OT A

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A



Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6

Psalm 96

I Thessalonians 1: 1-5

Matthew 22: 15-21



Today’s readings are themed around pagan states and God. The First Reading (from Isaiah) has God speaking to the King of Persia, Cyrus, who has authorized the return of the Israelites to the land. The Responsorial Psalm talks about “Tell His glory among the nations, among all the peoples His wonderful deeds.” The Gospel relates the attempt of the Pharisees and Herodians to trap Jesus by asking, “Is it lawful to pay tax to the emperor or not?” Jesus sees through their trick and tells them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”



St. Lawrence of Brindisi wrote about this parable and said: “The reply by which Christ sidestepped his enemies’ trap shows His great prudence. His teaching that each must be given what belongs to him, and also the example He gave by being willing to pay the temple tax and giving a shekel for Himself and Peter, shows His justice. His declaring it to be a duty to pay taxes to Caesar, opening teaching the truth without fear of the people who would be offended, shows His fortitude. For this is God’s way, of which Christ is the authentic teacher.” (Opera omnia)



The in-course reading today begins the First Letter to the Thessalonians. Scholars tell us that it was the first of the New Testament documents to be written. We get the greeting and the thanksgiving of the epistle, in which Paul tells his readers, “Our preaching of the Gospel proved not a mere matter of words for you, but one of power; it was carried on in the Holy Spirit, and out of complete conviction.”



A motet based on the Gospel for today, called "Jesus and the Pharisees," is sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop on the cd, "Music for the Year of Matthew." The recording is published by The Liturgical Press (www.litpress.org).