Stepping into the Gospels

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To Be With Jesus

Today is Sunday the 18th of October, beginning the 29th week of Ordinary Time.

Dee Wilson, with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘To Be With Jesus’. Today, we will place ourselves in a scene with Jesus in our imagination. As we begin this time of prayer, imagine you are stepping into the Gospels with Jesus... notice what it is like.

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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 22:15-21

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ 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.’

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Presence

Raphah

What do you notice in this reading? About the people questioning Jesus? About Jesus’s attitude to them?

Jesus knew they were trying to trap him. How do you feel about Jesus’s response?

As you listen again, try to imagine the scene … the way in which people were speaking … how Jesus was looking at them as they spoke … their reactions as Jesus responded …

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Matthew 22:15-21

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ 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.’

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Imagine that you are there after this conversation has taken place. What do you want to say to Jesus? How does Jesus respond to you?

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Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen