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Twenty Third Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Gospel:
Matthew 22: 15-22
Following Life's
Rules
Highlighted
Verses: Matthew 22: 15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to
entrap him in what
he said. 16So 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. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is
it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But
Jesus, aware
of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you
hypocrites? 19Show
me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then
he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They
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.” 22When
they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Have
you ever been to the library? There's an important rule for being
there. Do you know what it is? (Be quiet so others can read.)
You probably have a whole list
of rules at school. Can you tell me a few? (Solicit children's answers.)
And how about driving in the car? Are there rules there too? There sure
are - and those rules are so important for keeping us safe that - if we
break them - we might even be asked to stop by the police.
Our lives are full of rules, aren't they? And some of them are so
important that they become laws
- which are rules that everyone
has to follow.
In today's Gospel story Jesus is asked a trick question: Whose rules does he follow? (In other words, does he
follow people's rules or God's?)
How would you answer that question? Whose rules do you follow? (Solicit children's
answers - guiding as necessary to establish that they follow both God's
rules and those of man.)
You're so smart. Jesus wasn't tricked by that question either. He
explained in his own words that it's important to do both - but that we
follow God's rules all the time.
So at school we follow school rules...and
in the car we follow road rules...and
we'll even whisper in the library - but
we let God's rules guide us no matter where we are.
Will you remember God's rules this week? Good.
Let's pray.
Dear God,
We follow many rules in life, but none are more important than yours.
Guide us as we work to be faithful followers during the week ahead.
Amen.
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