20th Sunday of Ordinary Times
What Does “Catholic Church” Mean?
Readings for:20th Sunday of Ordinary Times, Year A
Reading 1 Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Psalm Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
Reading 2 Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
Gospel Matthew 15:21-28
REFLECTIONS:… from Father Daniel
Theme of this Sunday: What Does “Catholic Church” Mean? “Catholic” stands for “universal”, that is, open to all people. The first reading tells us that Israel, before going into exile and before coming in contact with other peoples, was not “Catholic”, it was closed in upon itself. Later Israel, more enlightened, realised that the one God is Father of all. The Gospel shows what Jesus thinks. Christian communities must be really “Catholic”, open to receive everybody. The second reading is related to this topic and shows that salvation is not a result of privilege or because one is a member of a certain people, but because one accepts the saving initiative of God.
We have all been pre-judged at some time in our lives. We know what the Canaanite woman felt. A gentile woman approached Jesus with her concern about her daughter. For whatever reason, no one knows, Jesus rejected her request for healing for her daughter. The only time in the Gospels that Jesus ignored someone who came to him in need. Maybe, because she’s a Canaanite. However, the important thing to notice is that the woman didn’t turn and walk away. She was humble. She shows courage and boldness in approaching Jesus in order to gain His help to heal her daughter, because she knows and understands that Jesus has what she wants, the power to heal. It turns out, her faith and humility were enough to win Jesus over when she accepted his insulting remark: “it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” And so the Lord changed his mind. Her love for her daughter far outweighed any pride she may have had as she accepted his insulting remark. How many times have we prayed for something, and God seems to have “ignored” us? Do we still remain strong in our faith, like the Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel?
There is one place, though, where everyone is welcome. What does make a difference is our faith. We are all welcome into the house of God. “A house of prayer for all people.” No one is to be turned away. At its best, the place where you worship accommodates the whole spectrum of people. It is a sign of the Kingdom. The community you want to join opens its arms to you, and to people around the whole earth. You are welcome with all your strengths and talents and gifts, and with your weaknesses and limits and sinfulness. The only requirement is that your faith is strong.
