20th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
O God, let all the nations praise you!
1st Reading: Is 56:1, 6-7
This is what Yahweh says: Maintain what is right and do what is just, for my salvation is close at hand, my justice is soon to come.
Yahweh says to the foreigners who join him, serving him and loving his name, keeping his Sabbath unprofaned and remaining faithful to his Covenant:
I will bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. I will accept on my altar their burnt offerings and sacrifices, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
2nd Reading: Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
Listen to me, you who are not Jews: I am spending myself, as an apostle to the pagan nations, but I hope my ministry will be successful enough to awaken the jealousy of those of my race, and, finally, to save some of them. If the world made peace with God, when they remained apart, what will it be, when they are welcomed? Nothing less than, a passing from death to life.
Because the call of God, and his gifts, cannot be nullified.
Through the disobedience of the Jews, the mercy of God came to you who did not obey God. They, in turn, will receive mercy, in due time, after this disobedience, that brought God’s mercy to you. So, God has submitted all to disobedience, in order to show his mercy to all.
Gospel: Mt 15:21-28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from the area, came and cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not answer her, not even a word. So his disciples approached him and said, “Send her away! See how she is shouting after us.”
Then Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.”
But the woman was already kneeling before Jesus, and said, “Sir, help me!” Jesus answered, “It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to puppies.” The woman replied, “That is true, sir, but even puppies eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said, “Woman, how great is your faith! Let it be as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
REFLECTION:
Read: God’s house is a house of prayer for all peoples, irrespective of their race, religion, color, or nationality. Jesus affirms this reality by healing the daughter of the Canaanite woman. Paul reiterates this fact by declaring that the call of God is for all peoples, and cannot be nullified.
Reflect: We live in paradoxical times: Amidst the growing globalization, we also face the reality of growing narrow-mindedness, ethnocentrism, and tribalism. Religious fundamentalism, cultural intolerance, and national jingoism are on the rise. In such scenario, how open and receptive are you in seeing the face of Christ in the other who is different in religion, race, culture, and color?
Pray: Let us pray for the gift of dynamic tolerance that can help us embrace the other as brother/sister.
Act: Have a dialogue with a person of another faith, with the intention of listening and understanding him/her without prejudgment.
Daily Reflection
Daily Gospel ® is a product Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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