Ordinary Time

Pause

God wants to be known. Across the ages since the beginning of creation, God has wanted to be made known in a real and personal way among humankind. Still today with us, God wants to be known.

In God’s great bigness and mighty justice, in swift glimpses we catch of Divine glory on display, in the life and witness of a community living their faith out loud, and in spite of all efforts to suppress the reality of God, God is made known.

How are you allowing God to be made known in your life today?

Listen

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 emperor’s.” 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.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

Matthew 22:18-22

Think

Jesus would not be smoothed over by flattery. The Son of God saw right through the Pharisees’ malice-lined plot, but he didn’t respond with anger or fear. Instead, Jesus responded with wisdom. His answer to the tricky question of whether people should pay taxes to the emperor or not was one that maintained political peace with the Romans and causes us all to wonder what we give to God.

The Pharisees’ disciples were amazed at this response. They left Jesus knowing they did not want to engage in any more debate with the Good Teacher.

In the midst of confrontation, Jesus makes God known through maintaining composure and answering with truth.

When God is made known to a person or a community, it is a wonderful experience. Divine love and grace will always be evident at the presence of God. Sadly, not all of the world embraces the reality and presence of God. When God’s truth is challenged, may we respond with wisdom.

Jamie Mackey

Pray

God, may you be known in my life today. Amen.

Go

Go in the presence of God.

Go in the fullness of God.

Go in the reality of God.

Go in the love, grace, mercy, and truth of God.

Go with God made known in your life.