22nd Sunday 29 A. MISSION SUNDAY and giving to the tax man.   Fr Teddy asked the people,  “The deadline for submitting our tax returns is coming up soon.  Have you submitted yours yet?  Do you do it the easy way by asking SARS to help and give them all the correct information or use a tax consultant to see how you can find ways to cut down on what you might owe the government?   Maybe it is to do with our attitude towards tax, towards what we owe the government and what we believe they owe us.   Economic justice is important. One of the tasks of families is to build up society so we have to challenge ourselves, teach our children and do what is lawful and just.  And because this is Mission Sunday there is an extra dimension too.  We may be totally within the law from a civil perspective but in terms of the law of love and concern for our neighbour what should we be doing to in terms of giving to him by way of giving to God.”

Reflect, share, act. Scripture Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.    Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are God’s.   From Matt 22:15-21.  Pope Francis.  There is a poverty that stifles the spirit of initiative of so many young people by keeping them from finding work.  There is a poverty that dulls the sense of personal responsibility and leaves others to do the work while we go looking for favours.  There is a poverty that poisons the wells of participation and allows little room for professionalism; in this way it demeans the merit of those who do work and are productive.  To all these forms of poverty we must respond with a new vision of life and society. Message for World Day of the Poor 5.2017   Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love, so that walking together we may renew the face of the earth.