Daily Readings - Sun Aug 20 2023
Isaiah
1This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.6And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-7these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
Romans
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?29for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.30Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.32For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Matthew
21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter a powerful theme of God’s universal plan and mercy for all people. The first reading from Isaiah speaks of a time when God’s house will be a place of prayer for all nations, emphasizing inclusion and the unity of God’s people. The second reading from Romans, written by Paul, highlights God’s plan to extend His mercy beyond Israel to the Gentiles, illustrating that His gifts and call are irrevocable. Finally, the Gospel from Matthew shares the story of a Canaanite woman who, through her persistence and faith, receives healing for her daughter, demonstrating Jesus’s mission expanding beyond the boundaries of Israel.
These readings, each from a different context, weave together a narrative of God’s inclusive love. Isaiah’s vision of a restored Israel open to all peoples reflects a post-exilic hope for renewal and inclusion. Paul’s letter to the Romans explains God’s plan to include the Gentiles, showing that His mercy is not limited to one group. The Gospel illustrates this inclusion in action, as Jesus, initially focused on Israel, responds to the faith of a non-Jewish woman, thus expanding His mission. Together, these readings reveal that God’s plan is not confined to any single group but is intended for all humanity.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace diversity and extend compassion to everyone we meet. Just as the Canaanite woman’s faith opened her to God’s healing, our faith should lead us to trust in God’s universal plan. Let us strive to create an environment of inclusion and mercy, reflecting God’s love for all people. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith should inspire us to welcome others, just as God has welcomed us, trusting in His plan that transcends all boundaries.