29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
In our reading, we hear about Cyrus, the King of Persia who was a pagan. Pagans are outsiders of the church. They do not worship our one God. God was telling him that he is the only God and even though Cyrus does not know God, he has giving him many things. There are no pagan Gods. There is only one God who acts in and through all.
In our gospel, some Pharisees wanted to trick Jesus into saying something wrong. They asked if they should pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus knew they were trying to trick him so he asked them whose picture was on the coin. They said it was Caesar’s. Jesus told them to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. Government (Caesar) is important but we must only worship God, our heavenly Father.
Special Saint: Blessed Timothy Giaccardo – October 22nd
Joseph Giaccardo was born on June 13, 1896 in Italy to hardworking farmers. They passed on their Catholic faith to him and he prayed to Jesus and Mary. He had a statue of Mary on his shelf.
Joseph served at mass regularly. Fr. James Alberione liked Joseph and guided him in his spiritual life. Joseph entered a seminary in Alba to study for the priesthood.
In 1917, Joseph asked for permission to leave the seminary so he could join Fr. James who started a new order called the Society of St. Paul. In 1920, Joseph professed his vows and chose the name “Timothy”.
Father Timothy was the first priest in the order and he became a media apostle. He wrote, edited, printed, and sent out the Word of God. He communicated the Good News in many new ways to reach people throughout the world.
Fr. Timothy became very ill with leukemia. He died on January 24, 1948.
A prayer to Blessed Timothy to help us to be careful in choosing the media we use:
Blessed Timothy, may the books and magazines I read, the programs I watch, the music I listen to, and the games I play, lead me closer to Jesus. Help me to avoid any media that I know is displeasing to God. Amen.