Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 20 August 2023 Homily for 20 August 2023 – Sunday
First Reading: Isaiah 56: 1, 6-7
6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant— 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
We praise and thank the Lord God for allowing us to be adopted into his family through Jesus Christ. We must keep the Sabbath and his covenant. We must not be misled by other ‘houses of prayers’ that may spring up suddenly! For we know we are the ‘foreigners’ who have been saved in God’s great mercy and we must return only to His One Holy Mountain.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67: 2-3, 5, 6, 8
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Alleluia, Amen!
Second Reading: Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry 14 in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them.
According to the Bible, non-Jews were considered Gentiles. So then, we who are not born Jews can be called the Gentiles, today! Therefore, St. Paul is speaking to us today. We have been shown mercy by God and have been called!
29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
If we feel we have been called we ought to then conduct ourselves accordingly!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Gospel: Matthew 15: 21-28
27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
In spite of not being an initial beneficiary, the Canaanite woman portrays courage in persisting in her faith. Christ may have allowed her this opportunity to display her faith. Through her persistence, she receives the miracle. We today, do not originally belong to the Jewish community, and yet here we are, united into “the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church” (CCC pg50). The “Church” is the assembly of those whom God’s Word “convokes”, ie: gathers together to form the people of God…themselves nourished with the body of Christ. (CCC.777) Hence, through Jesus Christ, we are grafted as branches of the one true living vine. (John 15:1) For this reason, we will rejoice in the Lord at all times!
Alleluia, Amen!
