First Reading

Reading from the second letter of the apostle Saint Peter

2 Peter 3, 12-15. 17-18

Brothers and sisters: Think about how holy and dedicated your lives should be as you wait for and hasten the coming of the day of the Lord, when the heavens will disappear, consumed by fire, and the elements will melt.

But we trust in the Lord’s promise and await a new heaven and a new earth, where justice dwells. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, supported by this hope, make every effort to be found by the Lord in peace with him, without stain or reproach, and consider that God’s generosity is our salvation.

So then, dear brothers and sisters, you have already been warned; stay on guard so that you are not carried away by the error of the wicked and lose your security. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To him be glory, now and until the day of eternity. Amen.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark

Mark 12, 13-17

At that time, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some supporters of Herod to ask him a tricky question. They approached him and said: “Teacher, we know that you are sincere and that you do not care what people say, because you do not try to flatter men, but teach the way of God in all truth. Is it lawful or not to pay tribute to Caesar? Should we give it to him or not?”

Jesus, noticing their hypocrisy, said to them: “Why are you setting a trap for me? Bring me a coin so I can see it.” They brought it to him, and he asked them: “Whose image and name does it bear?” They answered: “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said to them: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed.