29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jesus tells the Pharisees to give Caesar what is his - what bears his image. What bears God's image is something of infinitely more value - us.

How are we giving the king what is his? The Church gives us precepts and commandments to give us guidance on how to love God as He deserves. Among these precepts, there are four characteristics which also define us as members of St. Ann’s: worship, service, giving, and community.

Our whole life should be oriented toward the Lord in a spirit of worship – acknowledging that He is God and we are not. We “give the LORD glory and honor” by our participation in the Mass, by spending quiet time with Him in prayer, by singing His praises, and through the witness of our lives.

As we worship we are called to imitate our Lord who came not to be served but to serve. We are called to go out and be light for the world by setting aside our own desires in order to bring Christ to the world.

The most practical form of service is giving. We have received all we have from the Lord as a free gift, and are called to use our gifts for the good of others, whether that gift is to an individual, a charitable organization, or to the church.

In all things we remember that we cannot do it alone. We are created to be in community with one another and with God. We worship, serve, and give in the context of a community – the Body of Christ, whose image we bear.

Do I worship the Lord in Mass and prayer with all my heart or do I just go through the motions?

Do I imitate Christ and serve others or am I overfocused on my own comfort?

Do I give freely from the time, talents, and treasure I have been blessed with?

Do I acknowledge I need the help of others and invest in the community around me?