As mighty as Cyrus is as ruler over Persia, even he is subject to God's power, Who chooses him to fulfill His purposes for bringing Israel back to their land.
The power of God's Kingdom advances further on Earth when Jesus comes. The religious authorities try to trap Jesus with a question about paying the census tax. Jesus rebuffs their question and offers an important lesson. He requests the coin that pays the census tax and then asks whose image is on the coin, and then masterfully says, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God." His response calls them to rise above the context of the question to be more aware of our relationship with God and how we put it into action.
By faith, we recognize that we bear God's image, and so we are called to devote our lives to God, striving in faith, hope, and love, remembering that God chose us and revealed the Gospel to us in "power...the Holy Spirit...and with much conviction", as St. Paul writes. Such a great gift calls us to use it for a glorious, transcendent purpose.
I heard these readings proclaimed at my Confirmation Mass 21 years ago. They had powerful insights about how I, in this encounter with God, would receive a great gift and be called to offer it back to God while advancing His Kingdom on Earth.
And typically, on October 18, we celebrate the Feast of St. Luke. His Gospel makes us aware of how God has come to us, incarnate in Christ, and then points our human nature toward Heaven, where He reigns, and from where He sends the Holy Spirit so we can advance the Gospel message in this world, living in accordance with the song of the angels, giving glory to God and bringing peace on Earth.
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