Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, August 20, 2023 (EPISODE-435)
Readings for Sunday, August 20, 2023 - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
FIRST READING: Isa 56:1, 6-7
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6+8. "O God, let all the nations praise you"
SECOND READING: Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 4:23). Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom. And healed all who were sick.
GOSPEL: Matt 15:21-28
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1083122126 -PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 09: Jesus and the Canaanite woman, stained glass window from Saint Germain-l'Auxerrois church in Paris, France on January 09, 2018. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Zvonimir Atletic
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily) for Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, August 20, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-twentieth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-435 (EPISODE-435)
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[' gospel' values included in the readings: inclusion, welcome, openness, mercy, compassion, persistence in faith]
This weekend's readings remind us of one of the key teachings and attitudes of Our Lord…. This reveals to us, a central value and attitude in the life of the Holy Trinity: (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!) …. and that is openness, inclusion and welcome. Love that reaches out and is always open to the other, and a love that is always open to "yet one more person being part of the family." ... and one more, and one more after that, and so on endlessly, ......
Our Lord shows us God's nature as inclusive, welcoming, compassionate, forgiving, and flexible to be able to respond to others and their needs. God's values are constant, eternal, and powerful, and at the same time, God is open and responsive. Wonderful!
Whenever we come across restrictive, "not listening", unwelcoming and exclusive situations, it is very likely that the value is not resonating with Our Lord's teachings. In obedience and imitating the Lord, the church always strives to be a welcoming, compassionate, open and inclusive community.
The faith of that lady who persisted in asking Our Lord for what she needed is sadly in stark contrast with the response many of Our Lord's own people were giving to Our Lord himself, who was 'one of them' – one of their own people. One of the chosen ones. Many of his own people were rejecting him. And here was a lady from a different place and religion who knew she was taking a risk in approaching him. Yet she persists even when she gets an initial and notable rebuff from the disciples and even by Our Lord's initial response.
The lady persists because she KNOWS that Jesus is the one who can help. She knows that he is the Messiah who will welcome the chosen ones to his table, even if she is not one of his flock. And she hopes and prays that her faith in him and her proximity to the table of God's grace will be enough to at least share in the overflow of blessings that she knows will come from this table. The Canaanite woman is willing to share in any "scrap or morsel" of the richness God has to offer, which, ironically, is not being appreciated by those who sit at the table…. And she is RIGHT. Our Lord does not merely say; you can enjoy the scraps that fall from the chosen one's table… He is saying to her; because of your faith and persistence…. you can JOIN the table… for - What faith!! What persistence!!
We cannot see the faces of all involved in this scene, but if we did see their body language, I think a deeper reality would become apparent. Our Lord's reaction to her, at first glance, appears (on paper) to be cold and can seem to be rather harsh.... but I believe that he was really asking her in terminology very familiar and common at the time: "Is it right that I who was sent to the chosen ones of Israel, should take the food I have to give them and cast it to outsiders??" Or perhaps he was allowing her to show just how strong her faith in him was; and how strong her determination was. How very different her response is to the lukewarm response of these "chosen ones" around him, for whom he was indeed first offering his good news.
I imagine that when the lady responded how she did, Our Lord would have smiled, thrown his head back and laughed! Not a scornful laugh, though! Rather, a laugh of delight, approval, and recognition. THIS lady GETS it! Here is someone who gets what I am offering, and she is not even from our own clan. This lady understands when many of my people do not or will not! This humble woman wants to share in any small piece of the blessings that others cannot even see. And then his warmth and inclusion are complete!
There are references to Our Lord starting out addressing the chosen ones of Israel. Still, by the end of his ministry, this has widened right out to include everyone and anyone who will respond positively to him and his message.
The chosen ones are now anyone and everyone who responds in faith, love and trust to what The Lord is offering...
This is a blessing so great it simply cannot be overstated!!
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
MISSION 2000 – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR A. BY MARK LINK S.J.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1083122126 -PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 09: Jesus and the Canaanite woman, stained glass window from Saint Germain-l'Auxerrois church in Paris, France on January 09, 2018. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Zvonimir Atletic
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, August 20, 2023) (EPISODE-435)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{Goodness and kindness to you all}}
My brothers and sisters, we have gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, - so let us pause and reflect upon our sins to rejoice in God's loving mercy.
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy//You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy//You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord, have mercy.//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6+8. "O God, let all the nations praise you"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 4:23). Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom. And healed all who were sick.
Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary III
Euch Prayer II
(theme variation: 3)
(welcome cycle- Good evening/morning.
Welcome to this Mass.
We especially want to welcome all visitors to the parish this weekend.
We hope you have a wonderful stay.
Could you please check to see if your mobile devices are switched off or turned to silent.
Our Presider tonight/today is Fr…………………………
Please stand as we sing our entrance hymn: "__________" *)
(pre+post variation: v1-short)
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{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}
Go in peace. (glorifying the Lord by your life)
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: Subscribe to mailing list to keep up-to-date
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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