Who do you honor?

It has been stated that

humility is a great virtue until we’re proud of it. How difficult it is, both concerning ourselves and others, just to be grateful for talent, ability, success and good fortune and not to boast about it; to keep quiet about it and to use these gifts, by giving thanks to the Lord and for the good of one another.

Every day we make decisions and choices involving values, judgment, honor and gratitude. The best way to make this happen is to be well-informed about what needs to be said or done. To pray for the wisdom and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to

discern the depth and value behind the honor or acknowledgment that we are challenged to give or receive is very important.

Our first reading from Isaiah gives us the answer to many questions by the statement. “We are to worship God alone the God who calls us by name.”

Do you daily stop and give God His due in a spirit and prayer of Thanksgiving? Do you honor God by reaching out in good deeds and words for Neighbor, who is created, saved and sanctified by Our One God? In fact, are you able to really believe the fact that everything we have comes first from God and it

is to Him that we owe our first allegiance?

There were some scientists and biologists who thought that they had found the secret of life. They decided to tell God he was no longer needed. They said they could create life also.

God said, “Well I created life from a handful of dirt.” They said we could too. Then they picked up a hand full of dirt and started to show God what they could do with the dirt. God said to them, “Wait just a minute, CREATE YOUR OWN DIRT!”

In today’s Gospel, the enemies of Jesus thought they really had Jesus in

trouble and they could get him to cause civil rebellion or revolution over paying taxes. Jesus avoided getting caught in their trap and reminds us, also, that we have obligations to both God and Civil Authority.

St. Paul, in our second reading, reminds us to pray for our leaders and to obey them. Jesus did not answer how we are to treat some of the thorny issues that we have to deal with in a society but states that obeying God is our greatest responsibility. As Jesus affirms the emperor’s legitimate authority from the coin to pay taxes, He also implies and affirms that as we are fashioned in the image and likeness of God that God deserves all Honor, First, Last And Always.

We will get in trouble with the law if we do not give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s but we have the most to lose if we do not give back to God the things that are God’s .That is why we go to Mass to unite ourselves with Him in the Word of God and the Eucharist to show our gratitude by faith, praise and time to honor God!

We also are challenged to know that, as God created the first dust, so He knitted us in our mother’s womb and is ready to take us back as dust.