{"id":7070,"date":"2011-10-11T12:00:02","date_gmt":"2011-10-11T19:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=7070"},"modified":"2015-03-19T14:56:27","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T21:56:27","slug":"sunday-lectionary-king-of-kings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2011\/10\/11\/sunday-lectionary-king-of-kings\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Lectionary: King of kings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 16th, 2011<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This week’s Readings focus on the distinction between the kings of this world and the LORD. The Gospel asks us the question: what do we owe to our rulers and what do we owe to our God?<\/p>\n

In the First Reading we learn that it is the Lord, and not the King of Persia, who is subduing the nations. In the Psalm we are told repeatedly to give the Lord the praise which He is owed. In the Second Reading we hear the response of the Thessalonians to God’s great grace. Finally, in the Gospel we are told in no uncertain terms – give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but give to God what belongs to God…<\/p>\n

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Reading I: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6<\/h2>\n

At the time of Isaiah, King Cyrus of Persia was the most powerful man in the world. He would eventually issue the order to release the Jews from captivity and allow them to return from Babylon to Israel (Ezra 1:1-4<\/a>). In this passage the Prophet makes it clear to Cyrus (as indeed it should be obvious to every ruler) that any power he has is given to him by God. It is the Lord who is truly in charge.<\/p>\n

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,\u00a0whose right hand I grasp,\u00a0subduing nations before him,\u00a0and making kings run in his service,\u00a0opening doors before him\u00a0and leaving the gates unbarred:\u00a0For the sake of Jacob, my servant,\u00a0of Israel, my chosen one,\u00a0I have called you by your name,\u00a0giving you a title, though you knew me not.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

I am the LORD and there is no other,\u00a0there is no God besides me.\u00a0It is I who arm you, though you know me not,\u00a0so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun\u00a0people may know that there is none besides me.\u00a0I am the LORD, there is no other.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Questions:<\/p>\n