IN the Introit of the Mass, pray with the priest for the forgiveness of your sins: " If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities, Lord, who shall stand? for with Thee there is merciful forgiveness, O God of Israel. Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice" (Ps. cxxix.). Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer.
O God, our refuge and strength, Who art the author of mercy, attend to the pious prayers of Thy Church, and grant that what we ask in faith we may effectually obtain. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
EPISTLE. Phil. i. 6-11.
Brethren: We are confident in the Lord Jesus, that He, Who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus. As it is meet for me to think this for you all : for that I have you in my heart ; and that in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, you are all partakers of my joy. For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding : that you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of justice through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
This epistle was written by St. Paul from Rome, where he was in prison, to the converts whom he had made in the city of Philippi, Macedonia. They had not only received the Gospel, but had also, for the sake of it, suffered many trials ; besides, they had assisted the apostles with pious gifts. St. Paul, there fore, rejoiced, and thanked the Lord. The day of Christ, spoken of by the Apostle, is the day of judgment, which comes to every man at the very hour of his death.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxii. 15-21.
At that time, the Pharisees going, consulted among them selves how to ensnare Jesus in His speech. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that Thou art a true speaker, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man : for Thou dost not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what dost Thou think, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not ? But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said : Why do you tempt Me, ye hypocrites ? Show Me the coin of the tribute. And they offered Him a penny. And Jesus saith to them : Whose image and inscription is this ? They say to Him : Caesar’s. Then He saith to them : Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
Who are hypocrites ?
Those who, in order to deceive their neighbors, show them selves outwardly pious, while within they are full of evil dispositions and malice ; who have honey on the tongue, but gall in the heart ; who, like scorpions, sting when one least expects it. Such men are cursed by God (Mai. i. 14).
" The Lord hateth a mouth with a double tongue"(Prov. viii. 13). "Assumed sanctity," says St. Jerome, "is a double maliciousness."
---------------------------------------------------------
Next: Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
