DAILY- HOMILY

August 20, 2017 - 20th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Green

Is 56:1, 6 -7 / Rom 11: 13 -15, 29- 32 / Mt 15: 21- 28

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....

     Regarding the Gospel, the Jews are opponents, but it is for your benefit. Regarding election, they are beloved because of their ancestors, because the call of God and his gifts cannot be nullified.

     Through the rebellion 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 rebellion that brought God's mercy to you. So God has submitted all to disobedience, in order to show mercy to all.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 15: 21 - 28

     Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Now a Canaanite woman came from those borders and began to cry 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 the little dogs." The woman replied, "It is true, sir, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the 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

     What kind of God did the Canaanite woman in today's Gospel reading believe in and find in Jesus? She found a God who cared for and took care of everyone, especially those in need. Does this sound like the God we believe in?

     Yet the Jesus in the Gospel reading compared the Canaanite woman and her daughter to little dogs, different from the master and his children. Jesus plainly said he was sent "only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel." Why this seeming favoritism, if God cares for all without exception?

     We see Paul writing about this question in the second reading: he saw many of his fellow Jews rejecting Jesus and many Gentiles accepting him in faith: "Through the rebellion 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 rebellion that brought God's mercy to you. So God has submitted all to disobedience, in order to show mercy to all."

     We speak of God's universal salvific will and of Christ's role as Redeemer. God's universal salvific will is fulfilled through Christ alone: God saves us through his only-begotten Son.

     Despite Jesus' seeming rebuke, the Canaanite woman showed her faith and humility in her reply to Jesus "It is true, sir, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the master's table." With such faith, what can the God of mercy do but grant her prayer for her daughter.

     We pray that we may have the faith and humility of the Canaanite woman, finding faith in the God who cares even for the little dogs under the master's table. We pray that we may also be like Christ in his care even for the dogs under the master's table.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     BEBET GASTON 

     DETDET CRUZ 

     HILDA T. SO 

     JERSHENALE SY

     MARY JERIKA P. ONG 

     MICHELLE SISON

     TERESITA RONQUIL­ LO-GALAO

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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