First Reading

First reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 45, 1. 4-6

Thus says the Lord to Cyrus, his anointed,
whom he has taken by the hand
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
and that no gate may be shut:
«For the sake of Jacob, my servant, and Israel, my chosen,
I call you by your name and give you a title of honor,
though you do not know me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
besides me there is no God.
I strengthen you, though you do not know me,
so that all may know, from east to west,
that there is no God besides me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other.»

Second reading

Reading from the first letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 1, 1-5

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy wish grace and peace to the Christian community of the Thessalonians, gathered by God the Father and by Jesus Christ, the Lord.

At all times we give thanks to God for you and keep you present in our prayers. Before God, our Father, we ceaselessly remember the works that manifest your faith, the laborious works that your love has undertaken, and the perseverance that your hope in Jesus Christ, our Lord, gives you.

We never lose sight, brothers and sisters very beloved by God, that it is he who has chosen you. In fact, our preaching of the Gospel among you was not carried out only with words, but also with the power of the Holy Spirit, which produced abundant fruits in you.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 22, 15-21

At that time, the Pharisees gathered to see how to make Jesus fall, with insidious questions, into something for which they could accuse him.

They sent some of their followers, along with some from the party of Herod, to say to him: «Teacher, we know that you are sincere and teach the way of God with truth, and that nothing deters you, because you do not seek anyone’s favor. Tell us, then, what you think: Is it lawful or not to pay tribute to Caesar?»

Knowing Jesus the malice of their intentions, he answered them: «Hypocrites, why do you try to trap me? Show me the coin of the tribute.» They presented him with a coin. Jesus asked them: «Whose image and inscription is this?» They answered him: «Caesar’s.» And Jesus concluded: «Give, then, to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.»