＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 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.

 

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (4)

O God, let all the nations praise you!

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 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 ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 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 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.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

Yahweh extends the reach of His love and care to the outcast and unlisted. There are no foreigners and second – class recipients of God’s grace.

Reflect:

There is a misunderstood teaching in Catholic classes: “Outside the Church, there is no salvation.” This gives us the sad label: catolico cerrado (closed catholics ). The misunderstanding pushes some Catholics into thinking only the officially registered or baptized are saved.

Non-Catholics then accuse us of being presumptuous as more privileged in God’s eyes. Our age-old teachers, however, offer another understanding and deeper awareness of what is a Church. It is not a building or an organization.

The church is Jesus’ love. We actually say: “Outside of love, there is no salvation.” That is the far-reaching love inviting the Canaanite woman.

Pray:

We pray for those who, in different circumstances, are deprived of the Church’s ministries and care.

Act:

Gather some friends and go to institutions like a prison, drug rehabilitation center, or a place of abandoned children or aged men and women. Bring to them your smiles and care not necessarily material gifts. Make them know Christ loves them through you.