Daily Readings - Sun Aug 16 2020

¹Thus says the Lord: Preserve judgment, and accomplish justice. For my salvation is close to its arrival, and my justice is close to being revealed⁶And the sons of the new arrival, who adhere to the Lord so as to worship him and to love his name, shall be his servants: all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it, and who hold to my covenant⁷I will lead them to my holy mountain, and I will gladden them in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their victims will be pleasing to me upon my altar. For my house will be called the house of prayer for all peoples

Romans

Chapter 11

¹³For I say to you Gentiles: Certainly, as long as I am an Apostle to the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry¹⁴in such a way that I might provoke to rivalry those who are my own flesh, and so that I may save some of them¹⁵For if their loss is for the reconciliation of the world, what could their return be for, except life out of death²⁹For the gifts and the call of God are without regret³⁰And just as you also, in times past, did not believe in God, but now you have obtained mercy because of their unbelief³¹so also have these now not believed, for your mercy, so that they might obtain mercy also³²For God has enclosed everyone in unbelief, so that he may have mercy on everyone

Matthew

Chapter 15

²¹And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon²²And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: "Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.²³He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: "Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.²⁴And responding, he said, "I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.²⁵But she approached and adored him, saying, "Lord, help me.²⁶And responding, he said, "It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.²⁷But she said, "Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.²⁸Then Jesus, responding, said to her: "O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that very hour

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on God's universal mercy and inclusion. In Isaiah, we hear a call to justice and salvation, emphasizing that God's house is a place of prayer for all people, highlighting inclusivity. Romans expands on this theme, explaining that God's mercy extends beyond the Jewish people to the Gentiles, illustrating that His gifts are irrevocable and available to all. The Gospel from Matthew vividly illustrates this inclusion through the story of the Canaanite woman, whose persistence and faith lead Jesus to heal her daughter, demonstrating that His mission is not limited to the Israelites but embraces all who have faith. These readings collectively underscore God's desire to reach all people, regardless of their background. They remind us that faith and persistence can lead to healing and that God's love is not confined by boundaries. The Canaanite woman's humility and determination serve as a model for our own approach to prayer, encouraging us to seek God with openness and trust. In our daily lives, these readings inspire us to embrace diversity and recognize God's presence in everyone. They call us to live with humility, perseverance, and faith, trusting in God's universal love and mercy. Let us strive to be open to others, just as God is open to all, and remember that His love knows no bounds.