Jesus snares the Pharisees in their own trap in today’s gospel with his brilliant teaching to “render unto Caesar . . . . ” Their hypocrisy is revealed for all to see.

It was usual for ancient people to include in their letters a prayer or blessing for the recipient, and Saint Paul was no different, offering thanksgivings in one form or another in almost all his letters, including 1 Thessalonians, where he praises the community for continuing the work he and his colleagues began.

Who’s your worst enemy? Not knowing a single thing about your life, I can make a pretty good guess. It’s not your boss, your mate, your rival, or that fifth-grade teacher who always had it in for you. No, our own worst enemy is usually ourselves.

These days “render unto Caesar” has got to be one of the most oft-quoted passages of the Bible, along with “an eye for an eye.”

The fact that God can work even through someone like a Cyrus reveals how the divine often shows up in unexpected ways.

We give thanks to God always for the gospel that comes to us in power and in the Holy Spirit. Pray that we receive it with much conviction and live by its teachings.

We give thanks always to God for all of you. The beginning of the earliest book of the New Testament offers some themes that are important for Saint Paul. It also speaks of what could be the central question this week’s readings pose: Through whom does God work?

Any day, any minute we bless God for our being or for anything, for food, for sunlight, we do and are what we were meant for, made for—things that give and mean to give God glory.