Scripture Scribbles: October 18, 2026
the Gospel
Matthew 22:15-21
The Pharisees went off
and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,
"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion,
for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax."
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's."
At that he said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
the scribble
Twenty-nine years ago on this very day, October 18, 1997 my husband and I received a beautiful gift from God. On the feast of Saint Luke, at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, our baby boy, with a bright red face and very strong lungs was placed in my husband’s arms. We were grateful for this gift, yet in our ignorance, we had no concept of the generosity of God. We had no knowledge of our vocation. Although we had been married in our hometown parish, in our little seaport town, which both of our families belonged to, just eleven short months earlier, we didn’t realize what gifts we were beginning to receive from God. We took for granted the miracle that had just occurred. And if any of you have held a brand new baby and gazed at the absolute, incredible beauty of the perfection of God’s creation, you know what I mean. If you are like me, there are Bible verses you can completely miss for years and years.
Genesis 1:27
"God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
This baby who was handed to us was made in the image of God!! You were made in the image of God!!
Not only that, God expects me to return this gift!
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
Wait, what? He’s expecting them back? What does this mean?
To me, it means we can’t take this life, these gifts, or this vocation for granted. I can’t act like I “don’t know anything” anymore, because I do.
My eyes were not open for many, many years. Life just kind of moves forward without slowing down, and if you’re not careful the world will be happy to dictate what you think and the decisions you make about your family and your future.
But we are in this world; we are not of this world. I mean, we are HIS! He created us in HIS image and likeness.
This gift we were given twenty-nine years ago was part of HIS plan. God saw the whole picture, I could only see the sleepless nights and the chaos of early motherhood, which was much harder than I imagined.
God saw this “oldest son” that He gave us as the leader of his five younger siblings. He saw him as the future athlete we would watch play sports, rain or shine, in freezing cold rinks and rainy muddy fields. He saw the friend he would be to his sister and four brothers. He saw the Captain in the Army he would become and the joy he would bring to his family and friends.
He sees his future and He knows the plans He has for him. (Jeremiah 29:11)
God also expects my son to know HIM! That’s where we come in: his parents. Have we raised him to know God? To trust God? To seek the one who created him?
He expects him back. He expects you back.
So let’s not bury our gifts.
Let’s not take for granted all that has been entrusted to us.
Let’s run this race, and let’s run it with all the people God has put in our path. Let’s show up with all our loved ones and build the Kingdom together.
Happy 29th Birthday Conor
I love being your mom!
My cup overflows.
Today’s devotion was written by Beth Brennan
