Sunday between 16 and 22 October
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
First Reading - Isaiah 44.28 - 45.1,4,13a
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Lord says to Cyrus of Persia:
You will be my shepherd,
to carry out my purposes,
to rebuild Jerusalem,
and to restore the temple.
I anointed you
as King of all Persia.
I led you, and strengthened you,
to suppress all the nations around you.
Every king surrenders to you.
Every city gate is open to you.
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and my chosen people,
I have called you by name,
and I have given you
a title of honour,
even though you do not know me.
I have raised you up in righteousness,
to rebuild my city
and to set my exiles free.
This is the word of the Lord.
Second Reading - 1 Thessalonians 1.1-9
A reading from the first letter of Paul
to the Thessalonians.
From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy;
to the church at Thessalonika.
Grace to you, and peace,
from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We always remember you in our prayers,
giving thanks to God our Father
for your works of faith and love,
and for the joyful and steadfast trust
that you have
in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We knew that God had called you
when we saw the message of the gospel
come to you
not only in words
but also in the power
of the Holy Spirit.
You followed our example,
and the example of our Lord,
when, in spite of persecution,
you received the word with joy.
Now, you yourselves
have become an example
for all the believers
in Macedonia and beyond.
Wherever we go, we have no need
to speak about your faith,
for they already know
about the welcome you gave us,
and how you turned away from idols
to serve the true and living God.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - Matthew 21.45, 22.15-22
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew.
When the chief priests
and the Pharisees
heard Jesus’ parables,
they realised
that Jesus was speaking about them.
So with some of
Herod’s officers,
the Pharisees made a plan
to trap Jesus
in what he said.
They sent some of their followers to Jesus,
to say, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere,
and that you teach the way of God,
showing deference to no one.
Tell us, then, what you think.
Is it lawful
to pay taxes
to the emperor,
or not?’
Jesus said, ‘You hypocrites.
Show me the coin
that is used
for the tax.’
They showed him the coin,
and he said to them,
‘Whose head is this?
And whose title?’
They said, ‘The emperor’s.’
Jesus said, ‘So give to the emperor
the things
that are the emperor’s.
And give to God
the things
that are God’s.’
And they had no reply;
and they left him,
and went away.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.