delete
«
»

Daily Prayer

June 1st, 2010

“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
(Matt. 12:17)

The Pharisees and Herodians thought they had the perfect question to trap Jesus: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” They were not seeking an honest answer. The Gospel states that Jesus knew their hypocrisy. His first reply began with the question: “Why are you trying to trip me up?” The Jews hated to pay taxes to Rome because in doing so they were supporting their oppressors – the Romans. It  also symbolised their subjection. If Jesus answered either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ he could find himself in trouble. If he said ‘yes’ it would mean he supported Rome, and this would turn his own people against him. If he were to answer ‘no’ he could be accused of treason and rebellion against Rome and this could lead to civil penalties. So he asked for a ‘denarius’ – the equivalent of a day’s wages. Instead of answering their question, Jesus asked another question: “Whose image is on this coin?” When they replied ‘Caesar’s’, Jesus told them to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar and to God what belonged to God.

Each of us bears God’s own stamp – we are made in the image and likeness of God, and therefore our lives should be given to God. Are we giving to God all that is rightfully His?

Prayer


Help me today, Lord, to remember that I am made in your image and likeness. May I act honestly so that I do not cloud over your image on my soul, so that when you look on me you will see a reflection of your Son Jesus.

«
»

The prayer for each day has been prepared by various members of the Holy Family Association. All who visit our website are remembered in prayer. If you would like us to pray for a particular need, simply complete and submit the form on the right hand side of this page. You may wish to leave a comment in the space below.

Just a Thought

How the Holy Family prayer: A Reflection by Pope Benedict XVI

“I would like to invite you to reflect on the place of prayer in the life of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The home of Nazareth, in fact, is a school of prayer where we learn to listen, to ponder and to penetrate the profound meaning of the manifestation of the Son of God, drawing our example from Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

Pope Paul VI during his visit to Nazareth said “we come to understand the need for a spiritual discipline, if we wish to follow the teaching of the Gospel and become disciples of Christ.” And he added: “First, it teaches us silence. Oh! That there would be reborn in us the esteem for silence, that wonderful and indispensable atmosphere of the spirit: while we are deafened by so many noises, sounds and clamorous voices in the frantic and tumultuous times of modern life. Oh! Silence of Nazareth, teach us to be resolute in good thoughts, intent upon the interior life, ready to listen well to the secret inspirations of God and the exhortations of the true masters.”

We can glean several insights on the Holy Family’s prayer and relationship with God from the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ childhood. We may begin with the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. St. Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph, “when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, brought the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord”(2:22). Like every observant Jewish family, Jesus’ parents go up to the temple to consecrate the firstborn son to God and to offer sacrifice. Moved by fidelity to the law’s prescriptions, they set off from Bethlehem and go up to Jerusalem with Jesus, who is now forty days old. Instead of a one-year-old lamb, they present the offering of simple families; that is two young pigeons. The Holy Family’s pilgrimage is one of faith, of the offering of gifts, a symbol of prayer, and of encounter with the Lord, whom Mary and Joseph already see in the son Jesus.”

Daily Prayers

    • Themes for Reflection

    Request a Prayer