God’s Living Word Today  Tuesday, June 2, 2020

God’s Living Word Today  Tuesday, June 2, 2020

[2 Pet 3:12-15a, 17-18 and Mark 12:13-17]
"Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?" Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at." They brought one to him and he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"The replied to him, "Caesar's." So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." [Mark]

Having celebrated the Solemnity of Pentecost this past Sunday, the Easter season concludes and the Church returns to the liturgical season of "ordinary time" although it is hardly ordinary but very much extraordinary time considering the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic and these past days of peace protests scared by violence, looting, arson, and destruction that is visible across the face of our nation.

God’s living word today reminds us of the importance and challenge of awaiting the Day of the Lord in peace, full of virtue and integrity. Most importantly obedience to civil authority must never interfere with the higher obedience owed to God, who alone is our refuge. When Caesar demands that Catholic hospitals engage in immoral procedures (abortion), we must say to Caesar that we cannot obey.

In light of our obedience to God first what is our Godly path ahead regarding peaceful protest and unrest? As civil unrest and protests continue in Los Angeles and cities across the nation, Archbishop Gomez calls for prayers and shares a message for peace and the respect for all life and human dignity in the following message. Friends, pray for our city and our nation. No one in America should suffer cruelty, violence, or unequal treatment because of their race or the color of their skin. Racism is a blasphemy against God who creates all men and women with equal dignity. But let our protests be peaceful. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost. Let’s keep working together to fulfill our nation’s sacred promise of life, liberty, and equality for all.

Let us pray for the grace to see that all people are created in God’s image and likeness with equal worth and dignity no matter what one’s race or color of skin. In our obedience owned to God first and foremost let us pray that we might all be spiritually color blind.

Father Dennis