Reflection –
The key here is a Pharisee carrying a Roman coin in the Temple precincts. A big deal? Yes! Roman coins had the head of Caesar on them. They carried the inscription “Tiberius, son of the divine Augustus”, an image and an inscription about a false God- infringement of the very first commandment. The coin carriers ask Jesus if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. They give Caesar his due: but they do not give to God what is due!
Mass readings.
29th Sunday of the Year -Year A, 17th & 18th October 2026
1st Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Responsorial Psalm. Ascribe to the Lord glory and power
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia..Shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life….. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 22: 15-21
Important Note: Please scroll within the below window to have access to daily readings for the Holy Catholic Mass. To keep scrolling down Our Lady’s newsletter, just scroll outside the window.
PARISH UPDATES:
Catechesis – There is a meeting for parents receiving sacraments in 2027 on the 11th November at 6pm at St Cuthbert’s. There will be an opportunity to enrol for those that haven’t already done so.
Special Collection – There will be a special collection this weekend for World Mission Sunday. This year’s theme, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, is One in Christ, United in Mission. Our prayers and donations will support missionaries and communities in need, including Missio Scotland’s projects in Albania and Ukraine. Please pray for missionaries throughout the world and give what you can. Donations can also be made online at missioscotland.com/donate
The Parish Council meeting took place on 13th October. Minutes will be available on the website and at the back of the church in due course
ARCHDIOCESAN UPDATES
Mass for the Faithful Departed – Archbishop Cushley will offer Holy Mass for the repose of all the faithful departed who have died in the Archdiocese in the last year, especially those buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Edinburgh. This will take place on All Souls’ Day, Monday 2 November, at 10:00am in the Cemetery Chapel at Mount Vernon Cemetery, 49 Mount Vernon Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 6JG.
White Mass for Healthcare Workers – Catholic healthcare professionals are invited to a special White Mass for the Feast of St Luke at 11:00am on Sunday 18 October at St Patrick’s Church, The Cowgate, Edinburgh. Come together in prayer, give thanks for the vocation of caring for others, and meet fellow Catholics working in healthcare. Refreshments will follow Mass. All healthcare workers are warmly welcome. Register at bit.ly/whitemassedinburgh
Celebrate with the Sisters of Mercy – The Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, are celebrating 10 years in our Archdiocese. Join them on Tuesday 20 October, 6:30pm–8:00pm at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB for a short documentary about the Sisters and their community life, Q&A, pizza and conversation Register at bit.ly/dinnerdoc.
Edinburgh Day for Life – SPUC Edinburgh West is holding its first Day for Life on Saturday 31 October, 9.30am–3.30pm, at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh EH9 1BB. Include talks from Dr Calum MacKellar, Margaret Akers and Chris McEleny. Register for this free event at bit.ly/dayforlife
Grief to Grace – Healing Retreat – Grief to Grace is a specialised five-day programme of spiritual and psychological healing for anyone who has suffered sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect in childhood, adolescence or adulthood. The next confidential retreat takes place 22-27 February 2027 at St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull, Perth. For more information, please contact Grief to Grace (Scotland) at margaret.clarke@grieftograceuk.org.
St Moluag’s Coracle – St Moluag’s Coracle is a Scottish Catholic online magazine featuring articles on faith, history, philosophy and current affairs. The magazine is free to read and welcomes contributions from Catholics across Scotland. Find out more and subscribe at stmoluagscoracle.com.
Archdiocesan events – More events are listed at archedinburgh.org/events
Our Lady’s Offertory Collections.
Last Sunday’s collection: £166
Month total collections (Cash) £339
Special Collections: £363
Bank Total (month) £820
Mass Bookings.
We are reminded that the booking of mass for our special intentions, wedding anniversaries, Birthday thanksgiving, Death anniversaries of our loved ones and general prayers is highly recommended. The mass stipends (Donations) are part of our contribution towards the good of the church and support of our priest.
Blessings to you, your families and those who are dear to you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
MASS TIMINGS
MASS INTENTIONS
MASS DONOR
Wednesday, October 21st, 10.00am
- Allen Nicholls RIP
- Pat
Friday October 23rd, 10.00am
- Sylvia DeLua
- Deanna McQue
Sunday, October 25th, 11.30am
- Edwin D.Cunha
- Craig McVittie
- Rita D'Cunha
- Peter Treschman
Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
Matthew 22:15-21
At that time: The Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Jesus in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’
Reflection on the etching
A coin becomes the centre of a confrontation in today’s Gospel. Asked whether taxes should be paid to Caesar, Jesus faces a carefully prepared trap: either answer could turn either the people or the Roman authorities against him. He asks to see the coin used for the tax and draws attention to its portrait and inscription. “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” His reply shifts the discussion from political allegiance to a much deeper question.
For those of us who reflect on images, the coin offers a striking contrast. Ye, it carries Caesar’s portrait. But that’s all. However, every human person bears the image of God. Something far more precious. The emperor’s portrait marks the currency; God’s image speaks of our deepest identity. No political power ultimately can claim the devotion that belongs to our Creator. Jesus therefore leaves us with more than an answer about taxation. He invites us to consider what we are doing with the life God has entrusted to us, and asks what imprint we leave on society? Our time, our gifts and our capacity to love all bear his imprint.
Rembrandt van Rijn, celebrated for his paintings, was also one of the greatest etchers in the history of art. His mastery of the etched line allowed him to convey the same emotional depth and sensitivity to light that we admire in his canvases. Fine engraved strokes, dense shadows and areas of untouched paper convey light. Printmaking at the time was a field of sustained experimentation for Rembrandt: he often returned to his copperplates, altering them between impressions to develop their expressive possibilities.
In The Tribute Money, made around 1635, Rembrandt gathers a closely packed group of figures around Jesus within an architectural setting. Their overlapping bodies and varied headwear give the encounter an immediate, human quality; we seem to stand among those listening to the exchange. Areas of dense crosshatching contrast with lighter passages, guiding our attention through the gathering. Measuring barely ten centimetres across, the etching is ultimately a small intimate scene. We can see how Rembrandt manages to convey a deeply human understanding of his subjects in his etchings. Within a small sheet of paper, he could capture the vulnerability of an ageing face or the spiritual intensity of a Gospel encounter.
Collectors of Rembrandt prints prize the differences between all the individual impressions of the same print: Rembrandt experimented with papers, varied the inking and reworked his plates, giving prints of the same subject very distinct characters and differing results. Rarity and the quality of the impression can make exceptional examples highly valuable. In December 2025, his portrait Arnout Tholinx, Inspector fetched £3.1 million at Christie’s, setting a world auction record for a Rembrandt print, and for any Old Master print.