Sunday - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time and World Mission Sunday

Dear Parishioners,

On Thursday of last week, one of our parishioners, Luke Koebbe, took the next step in the formation program for the Permanent Diaconate and received the minor order of Lector.  Luke and his wife Phyllis are long-time parishioners of the Cathedral Parish.  Please join me in extending congratulations and keeping Luke in your prayers as he continues his formation.  

Pope Francis reminds us that, “World Mission Sunday invites us to reflect anew on the mission at the heart of the Christian faith.  The Church is missionary by nature; otherwise, she would no longer be the church of Christ…”  Currently more that 1,100 mission dioceses in Africa and Asia are struggling to educate their seminarians, novices and lay catechists to build up their own faith communities.

"Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" This is what the Pharisees ask to catch Jesus in an error. It seems like a question that has nothing to do with our lives or our time. But in reality, the Gospel is always speaking to us, even today. He asks them to show him a "coin used for the tax," the common coin minted by Rome used in the entire Empire. Jesus asks whose title and portrait is used when stamping the money to identify it. They respond, "The emperor's." And Jesus answers, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." 

The answer upsets those who are listening. In every situation, we have to ask what belongs to the emperor and what belongs to God. In Jesus' answer it is clear what belongs to the emperor: just that coin from the Roman mint on which is stamped the "image" of the emperor. Therefore the coin should be returned to the owner. The crucial question for Jesus is the other one: what belongs to God? The term "image," used by Jesus to refer to the coin, is certainly a reference to the biblical phrase found at the very beginning of Scripture: "So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them" (Gen 1:27).

Every human being, with no exceptions, is radically marked by the divine presence. It cannot be taken away, because it is even stronger than our sin: we can deface or disfigure it, but we cannot erase it. Every human being is an icon of God, created in God's image. And yet this icon is certainly not given back to the Lord. Instead it is often offended and humiliated. But by disfiguring ourselves and others, we deface the very image of God.

Jesus is trying to encourage those who are listening to him to give God the things that belong to God: that is, every man and every woman. Every human being is God's. Indeed, the whole of creation is God's. The very breath of life belongs to God, which we receive from God and give back to God every time we love. And we will return it to God on the last day.

This weekend we celebrate World Mission Sunday and are reminded that, while missionary discipleship begins at home, it does not end there—nor at a border. Contribution envelopes may be found in your pews.  Please be generous in your support of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith today and on each day of your life through your prayers, sacrificial offerings, and charity.

Recently, the parish introduced the Cathedral’s All Souls Novena, in which all are invited to remember deceased loved ones for nine days of prayer beginning on November 2. Details on how to enroll in the Novena and receive the accompanying Mass card may be found in your bulletin.  

Also, anyone who has recently attempted to enroll a loved one in this Novena, but did not immediately receive an emailed receipt for your order, your payment was never processed and your order was never received. You are encouraged to please try again, or contact Chrissy in the parish office. We apologize for any inconvenience.  

Cathedral-inspired Christmas cards are now available for purchase.  All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Cathedral.  Details may be found in your bulletin.    

Just a quick reminder that masks are to be worn at all times while in the Cathedral Basilica (except for the reception of Holy Communion).  It is important that the mask covers both your nose and your mouth to prevent the spread of a virus.