Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
from NPR
Questions:
1) What surprised you about this article?
2) Who benefits from the current US tax laws? Why do you think this is?
3) Do you think there is a way for the tax system and economy in America can work to benefit all people? If so, what would it look like? If not, why not?
4) Do you think Jesus would be in favor of the system as it is currently set up? Why or why not?
5) If you could change one thing about the tax system or the economy in America, what would it be? How could you work to making this change in your community?
Views and Qs: An Inclusive Economy
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What do you think an inclusive economy is? 2) Do you see an inclusive economy operating in your community, state, or country? Why or why not?
3) Who do you see being left out of the economy in your community, state, or country? Why do you think this is happening? 4) How do you think our economy could change to be more inclusive? 5) Do you think the purpose of an economy is the accumulation of wealth or something else? If not wealth accumulation, what do you think the purpose is?
Feast and Faith: What Belongs to God?
For this week's dinner discussion we will focus on Jesus' dialogue with the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians about paying taxes to Cesar.
Prayer -
Almighty God, whose loving hand has given us all that we
possess: Grant us grace that we may honor you with our
substance, and, remembering the account which we must one
day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Discussion -
This week we are reflecting on the Jesus' conversation with the Pharisaic disciples and those who worked for Herod (i.e. those who benefited from the tax system in the Roman Empire) about whether or not it is lawful to pay taxes to Cesar. Jesus' final response is, "Give to Cesar what is Cesar, and to God the things that are God's":
Questions -
1) What do you think belongs to God?
2) What belongs to you?
3) What belongs to you that does not belong to God?
4) What do you think Jesus is calling us to do with what we believe belongs to us in his response to the Pharisees and Herodians?
5) Where do you see issues of ownership creating suffering and tension in the world around you? In your own life?
Final Nugget -
Jesus is inviting us this week to think about what really "belongs" to us, and what we are called to do with the resources in our "possession." How are your beliefs about God, creation, community, and stewardship in line or our of line with your ideas about ownership? How could they come more in line this week?
Stay and Pray: A Devotion for Families at the Close of the Day Each week we feature a way for your family to reflect and pray together. For families with older children this is an at home liturgy for your family to participate in together. It is a daily devotion for families adapted from The Book of Common Prayer.
Before you begin, take a few moments to decide who will read the scripture reading and who will read the collect and closing.
Read the Psalm and Lord's Prayer in unison.
After a moment of silence, begin with the Psalm.
Psalm 99
(read in unison)
1 The Lord is King;
let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 "O mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them,
yet punished them for their evil deeds.
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
Reading
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 22:15-22
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Prayers for Ourselves and For Others (take this time to each offer one person/event that you would like to hold in prayer as well as one thing you are thankful for)
Dear God, tonight I ask your prayers for.......
and I give you thanks for ..........
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
(read in unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
The Collect
(read by assigned person)
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: