A WORD FOR TODAY 18 OCTOBER 2020

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

BE RESPONSIBLE TO GOD AND FOR THE SOCIETY

_Show me the money for the tax.” And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God's."(Matthew 22:19-21)_

It is a reality that we are human beings, created by God and we live in a society. This makes us to be social beings, because we interact with each other and one person's behaviour definitely affects others.

The readings of today shows us that God is the greatest and He owns all things and has the power to save and deliver us, but we havd a responsibility to acknowledge His greatness, live for Him and do our part to make the early a better place._

In the first reading rhe prophet Isaiah speaks words of hope to the people of Israel in exile that God will send them a helper in the king Cyrus and deliver them from captivity. God can make use of anyone to save us in our times of need, sll we need to do is to continue to trust and hope in Him.

_St. Paul in the second reading encouraged the Thessalonians to continue up to grow in their faith. He sowed the seed of faith among them and he kept supporting them with prayers and exhortation so that will not drift away from trusting in God._

_*Responsibility requires diligence, discipline, accountability, reliability (trustworthiness) and faithfulness. If you aim to be responsible to God and to the society in which you live, you must strive to possess these virtues and more and your actions will be pleasing to man and God.*_

_In the gospel reading we see the Pharisees and the Herodians who were bitter enemies, team up to launch an attack against Jesus who have been indicted them for some weeks now. The question they asked was a trap and if Jesus had said it is not good to pay tax, he would have incurred the wrath of the Roman authorities anc if he has asked them to pay the tax, the people will hate him. His answer, instead, left them dumb founded and they left him and walked away._

_*Jesus was not telling them to go against the rule of the society by not paying the tax, but to simply be responsible to God and to the society. We belong to God, but we are in the world. Therefore we must spend quality time to honour and adore Him and also play our part to make the society in which we live a place where people will be happy to live in without being oppressed or discriminated against.*_

_When you fail in your responsibility as a teacher, manager, politician, doctor, lawyer, student, business man or woman fashion designer, caterer, driver, Army, police or Airforce personnel, artisan and so on, then you are not making the world to be better, but destroying it._

_*The #EndSars protest we are experiencing in our country today is as a result of system failure. Most of our leaders have failed in their responsibility and the mess and rot we have in our country today is as a result of that failure which is boosted by corruption from top to bottom. This is my take on the protest. I support this movement and I want to see police brutality on innocent citizens end, but let the protest be a catalyst for a total reform of our nation which is being choked to death by different man made forces from different battalions.*_

_As Christians we must strive to uphold our honour and dignity, by doing well at all times and in this way God will be praised and those who come around us will be blessed with our words and actions._

_*Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, entails that we must be good citizens here on earth and also good citizens of heaven, but in the end God is the owner of all things and we all will be answerable to Him on the last day. Therefore, do your best to make the world a better place through your work and activity and never use religion as an excuse or privilege not to fulfill your obligation to the society and do not allow the demands of the society to make you push God to the background either. Balance both and you will be happy here and here after.*_

_Today is world mission Sunday, when we give to God ourselves and gifts for the good of the world. We support missionaries through our gifts and by giving we are also counted as missionaries. Never stop giving to support mission work and your reward will be great in heaven. Keep supporting those who carry out the work of evangelization, priests, religious and the lay faithful and God will bless you immensely._

_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊 as you begin your day and do have a magnificent Sunday. May Jesus help you to be responsible to God and to the society. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Isaiah 45:1,4-6/Psalm 96:1-10/1 Thessalonians 1:1-5/ Matthew 22:15-21

*Watch-Word:* Give the Lord glory and power.

*Do your best and be honest to God. Use your gift and make the world a better place and you will be happy.*

(Twenty Ninth Sunday of the year. Cycle A)