Education in Faith

Confirmation Reflection sessions with Fr Dong

Today our Confirmation Candidates met with Fr Dong via Zoom.  From this session the children were able to list and name the sacraments.  They were able to understand the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Trinity.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

Gospel Reflection:

This week’s Gospel teaches us to have faith in the one true God. 

The Pharisees try to trap Jesus by asking him whether or not it is lawful to pay tax to the emperor.  Jesus knows what they are up to and he asks the Jewish leaders for a coin.  The coin in those days would have had the image of Caesar on it with his title as ruler of all. 

Jesus tells the Pharisees, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” Jesus’ clever response to give back to Caesar his coin and to give to God everything refers to obeying the first commandment.

In today’s world, governments use tax money to pay for things that everyone wants, like a park or keeping the streets clean. However, other times, the government has to use the money to help a small number of people, like schools or sick people or even the water supply. Then, people get angry because they are not getting any use of what the government is using the tax money for. 

We can get more done when we all work together to make the world better for all people. In Jesus’ day, the emperor (Caesar) was taking a lot of money from the people of Israel and keeping it for himself or to help people far away in Rome. 

This was a trick question for Jesus. If he said to give money to Caesar the people would not like him and if he said to give it to God, it would make the Roman leaders angry. 

Jesus’ answer lets us know that we are to be more concerned with making sure that everyone gets what he or she needs, rather than everything benefiting everyone. If the town buys a bus for those in wheelchairs to get to shopping, it does not help those without wheel chairs, but we should not be jealous because others are being helped.

Reflecting on the Gospel

· Why did the people ask Jesus the question about paying taxes? 

· Whose image was on the coin? So whom did it belong to? 

· Whom do we belong to? 

· If we are to ‘Give to God what belongs to God,’ how do we ‘give’ ourselves to God?

· Why is it important to have faith in the one true God?· How does Jesus show that God is the ruler of all?· How can you give things to God?

Sacramental News

Thank you to ALL our Grade 6 families who attended the Parent and Child workshop on Wednesday night in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Your participation was greatly appreciated. 

We are extremely pleased with the attendance by families to this important event. May we continue to support our children in their faith journey.

Rozeta Ambrose

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au