Hymn: Take my life and let it be
Reading Mark 12:13-18
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial taxa] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.
Marriage at the Resurrection
18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
Ponder: think about your finger print. Fingerprints are unique and part of our God-given image. The fingerprint represents our loyalty to God. Where does your loyalty with God lie?
Prayer read by Jackie Blackmore
Prayer
God of love and God of justice,
teach us how to find your direction on our moral compass.
You don’t want us to wear ourselves out with anger against what can’t be changed.
You don’t want us to flail around in anger, hurting the innocent along with the guilty.
Grant us compassion, towards ourselves and for those who do things that make us angry.
Give us wisdom to choose when to seek justice.
As we journey with you through Holy Week,
give us the grace to be your true followers.
Amen
