2026-08-16 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
2026-08-16 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Prayer for healing:
Heavenly Father, we surrender our loved one and friends who are in need
of healing to your loving care and miraculous healing. May the
life-giving powers of your touch flow into every cell of their bodies
and into the very depth of their souls, cleansing, purifying, and restoring
them to wholeness and full life. Grant them the strength, courage, and
patience to endure their suffering. Help them to accept God's will and
to find peace in His love. At this time we lift up the following people:
Eunice Kim, Iris Simon, Eloise Dutil, George Horton, Don Mamayek, Janet Schaffer, Bernice Comfort, John and Buddy Fox, Abbi,
Debbie, EJ, Gretchen, Bob and Aida Heller, Lynn, Patti Sharrow, Jill, ... whom else should we pray
for ...
Sharing Practice of faith from last week
1. What have been the tiny whispering sounds in your life when God has acted?
2. Reflect on where God might be calling you to take steps out on choppy water. Take time to pray over the invitation and what you need to take the next step - Kairos
3. In prayer, ask God to give you the faith to hear the tiny whispering sounds of God's presence and the feet of faith to step out on turbulent waters.
Kairos
I was introduced to Kairos by my SEEL retreat director Ron Hallagan. Kairos Prison Ministry International, started in 1976, is an interdenominational Christian ministry that aims to address the spiritual needs of incarcerated people and their families. Kairos — a Greek word meaning "God's special time" or "the fullness of time." As of 2023, the ministry is active in 39 US states and nine nations. From Thursday Sept 24th through Sunday Sept 27th, a group of 30 volunteers of all denominations of Christianity will conduct the 15th annual Kairos retreat at Salinas Valley State Prison near Soledad, CA. These are people who are often forgotten and feel neglected and hopeless. Studies have shown that retreatants integrate better into society have a lower chance of returning to a life of crime.
I'm reminded by the Gospel of Matthew chapter 22: Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did for one of these least ones, you did for me.’
I'm reminded by the Gospel of Matthew chapter 22: Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did for one of these least ones, you did for me.’
Isaiah 56:1,6-7
Isaiah 56 begins what many scholars describe as “Third Isaiah.” This collection of prophetic oracles was likely compiled in the late sixth to early fifth century BCE. This era is often described as “postexilic”—the era immediately following Neo-Babylonian conquest. During this era, many deported Judeans returned to Jerusalem and its surrounding areas to begin rebuilding a community and Temple decimated by imperial conquest. The culture clashes between those deportees returning to Judah and the Judeans who had remained in Judah produced intense debates about the requirements for community membership and religious fidelity to God. Some things never change.In Isaiah 56:1, the Lord commands that the faithful members of the community must “maintain justice and do what is right.”
Isaiah 56:3–5 announces that foreigners and eunuchs—two classes of people who could be targets of exclusionary policies—have a secure place within God’s reconstituted Israel.
The vision of a new nation and revitalized religious life requires that God’s house be “a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Psalm 67
Psalm 67 is a word of praise to God that creatively integrates the priestly blessing of Israel and the ancestral promise of a blessing to the nations in order to project a renewed vision of the way things were meant to be from the beginning. This is a community psalm of thanksgiving (or declarative praise) for a particularly abundant harvest with which God had blessed Israel (verse 6).2 And, of course, it is not merely Israel that praises God but all the peoples and all the nations.
Isaiah 56:3–5 announces that foreigners and eunuchs—two classes of people who could be targets of exclusionary policies—have a secure place within God’s reconstituted Israel.
The vision of a new nation and revitalized religious life requires that God’s house be “a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Psalm 67
Psalm 67 is a word of praise to God that creatively integrates the priestly blessing of Israel and the ancestral promise of a blessing to the nations in order to project a renewed vision of the way things were meant to be from the beginning. This is a community psalm of thanksgiving (or declarative praise) for a particularly abundant harvest with which God had blessed Israel (verse 6).2 And, of course, it is not merely Israel that praises God but all the peoples and all the nations.Romans 11:13-15,29-33
Paul's message to the Romans, when he says 'for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable', is to clarion call for each of us to strive to do God’s work of love and mercy in the spirit of Jesus Christ according to the gift and faith given to us. Make ourselves as instruments to God; choose to let him transform us; with the help of the Holy Spirit discern or test God's true will for us then exercise the gifts given for the ministry of Jesus Christ. In doing God's work you will experience immense peace and love that can only come from God. Matthew 15:21-24
Before we go in to the details of this difficult passage, seeing Jesus insult the Canaanite woman as a 'dog' must at the very least be very disconcerting - let's take a look at 3 distinct terms: Hebrew, Israelite and Jew. We'll see that Jesus was all three (a Hebrew, an Israelite and a Jew) who came was spread the Gospel to the Jews and later to the Gentiles as well."Hebrew" : God's covenant was first revealed in Genesis 14:13 to Abram the Hebrew of the Urs in the Chaldean beyond the river Euphrates - the term Hebrew could have two possible origins. The first is to denote a people who "cross over" or "pass through". Abram crossed the river Euphrates to enter the land of Canaan. Some scholars also connect it to the Habiru or Apiru, referring to a social class of stateless, marginal people — showing that God from the earliest time reached out to those on the margins. Another explanation of the term Hebrew is 'a descendant of Eber' who was the son of Shem, grandson of Noah and ancestor of Abram. Today, "Hebrew" primarily survives as the name of the language.
"Israelite" : this is a covenantal term for the twelve tribes, descendants of Israel - who was born Jacob who was christened Israel which means "he who struggles with God and prevails" after wrestling with the divine being in Genesis 32:28.
"Jew": Lastly, the term Jew was derived after the fall of Solomon's Temple and the exile into Babylon. Stripped off the Temple, their country and their identity - the people took on the name Jew derived from Judah (in Hebrew Yehudah) one of the two tribes that were part of the Southern Kingdom that survived the Assyrian destruction only to be taken into exile in Babylon after their temple was destroyed. Jews came to mean people without a Temple, without a nation - looking for their Messiah.
Jesus was therefore (a Hebrew, an Israelite and a Jew) who came not to destroy the prophets or law but to fulfil it by teaching the Gospel to the Jews and later to the Gentiles as well. And by sacrificing his life on the cross he redeemed all of mankind.
In today's passage, Jesus goes with his disciples to the land of the Gentiles - to Tyre and Sidon - that is why the Gospels flag the woman as a "Canaanite" (Matthew) or "Syrophoenician... a Greek" (Mark 7:26) — she is a religious and ethnic outsider from a famously polytheistic, historically idol-associated region - who nonetheless recognises Jesus as the Son of God.
The Canaanite woman calls out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” In calling God's help she represents the longing of the world for the justice, the mercy, and the love of God. She senses correctly where this is to be found and is not afraid to go against her own religious beliefs. The woman exemplifies the proper attitude toward God, a combination of humility and boldness, of deference and defiance. We are creatures and God is God; nevertheless, God invites us into intimacy with him. That is also St. Augustine’s explanation for why God sometimes says no to repeated prayers - until he says yes. And this is why perseverance in prayer is so strongly recommended in the Catholic tradition.
Jesus’s responses move from silence, to an indirect rebuke, to an outright insult - as if to test her faith. We, the Church, are the Body of Christ. And so when people come to us demanding food, sustenance, friendship, love, shelter, or liberation, we are often tempted to do what Jesus does initially and what the disciples do: tell them to back off. Yet see what Jesus did, he was moved by pity and credited the woman, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish". We too should ultimately stop, listen, be present and help if it is in our means.
"Israelite" : this is a covenantal term for the twelve tribes, descendants of Israel - who was born Jacob who was christened Israel which means "he who struggles with God and prevails" after wrestling with the divine being in Genesis 32:28.
"Jew": Lastly, the term Jew was derived after the fall of Solomon's Temple and the exile into Babylon. Stripped off the Temple, their country and their identity - the people took on the name Jew derived from Judah (in Hebrew Yehudah) one of the two tribes that were part of the Southern Kingdom that survived the Assyrian destruction only to be taken into exile in Babylon after their temple was destroyed. Jews came to mean people without a Temple, without a nation - looking for their Messiah.
Jesus was therefore (a Hebrew, an Israelite and a Jew) who came not to destroy the prophets or law but to fulfil it by teaching the Gospel to the Jews and later to the Gentiles as well. And by sacrificing his life on the cross he redeemed all of mankind.
In today's passage, Jesus goes with his disciples to the land of the Gentiles - to Tyre and Sidon - that is why the Gospels flag the woman as a "Canaanite" (Matthew) or "Syrophoenician... a Greek" (Mark 7:26) — she is a religious and ethnic outsider from a famously polytheistic, historically idol-associated region - who nonetheless recognises Jesus as the Son of God.
The Canaanite woman calls out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” In calling God's help she represents the longing of the world for the justice, the mercy, and the love of God. She senses correctly where this is to be found and is not afraid to go against her own religious beliefs. The woman exemplifies the proper attitude toward God, a combination of humility and boldness, of deference and defiance. We are creatures and God is God; nevertheless, God invites us into intimacy with him. That is also St. Augustine’s explanation for why God sometimes says no to repeated prayers - until he says yes. And this is why perseverance in prayer is so strongly recommended in the Catholic tradition.
Jesus’s responses move from silence, to an indirect rebuke, to an outright insult - as if to test her faith. We, the Church, are the Body of Christ. And so when people come to us demanding food, sustenance, friendship, love, shelter, or liberation, we are often tempted to do what Jesus does initially and what the disciples do: tell them to back off. Yet see what Jesus did, he was moved by pity and credited the woman, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish". We too should ultimately stop, listen, be present and help if it is in our means.
Practice of faith for this week
- Reflect on a time when someone came to you for help and you turned them away. what could you have done differently?
- Research the charitable arms of the Catholic Church ..."not because they are Catholic but because we are Catholic"
Closing Prayer
Suscipe, a prayer of Thanksgiving by St Ignatius LoyolaTake, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All that I have and possess, You have given me; I return it all to You and surrender it wholly to be governed by Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
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