Dear sisters and brothers, God wants to save everyone. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time A
August 14, 2011
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: Isaiah 56,1.6-7
• 1 Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right,
do what is just; for my salvation is about to
come, my justice, about to be revealed. 6 And
the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants-- all who keep the
sabbath free from profanation and hold to my
covenant, 7 them I will bring to my holy
mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer;
their holocausts and sacrifices will be acceptable
on my altar, for my house shall be called a
house of prayer for all peoples.
The focus is on observing what is right and just.

3. 1st reading: Isaiah 56,1.6-7
• 1 Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what
is just; for my salvation is
about to come, my justice,
about to be revealed. 6 And
the foreigners who join
themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him, loving the
name of the LORD, and
becoming his servants-- all
who keep the sabbath free
from profanation and hold to
my covenant, 7 them I will
bring to my holy mountain and
make joyful in my house of
prayer; their holocausts and
sacrifices will be acceptable
on my altar, for my house
shall be called a house of
prayer for all peoples.
Commentary
• In parallel form, God commands his
people to live righteous and just lives.
V.1a
• In parallel form also, God states the
reason why:
– His salvation/justice is coming. V.1b
• In v.6, foreigners refer to non-Jews who
fear God:
– They join themselves to God
– They minister to him
– They become his servants
– They love the name of God
– They keep the sabbath
– They hold his covenant.
• As a result, in v. 7, God will do the
following for them:
– He will bring them to his mountain (Mt. Zion).
– He will make them joyful in the house of
prayer (Temple).
– He will accept their holocausts and sacrifices.
• The last line indicates that his Temple
will be for all peoples, not only for the
Jews.

4. Reflections on the 1st reading
• God is a universal God.
• His commands are also universal.
• Not only Jews and Gentiles, but, we, peoples of
today as well, are supposed to live in justice and
righteousness.
• All who live according to God’s law will be
acceptable to God in his Temple and glory.
• Are you a God-fearing citizen of the earth?

5. Resp. Ps. 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
• R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
• 2 May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
3 So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
• 5 May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
• 6 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
8 May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

6. Resp. Ps. 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
• R. (4) O God, let all the nations
praise you!
• 2 May God have pity on us and bless
us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
3 So may your way be known upon
earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
• 5 May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in
equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
• 6 May the peoples praise you, O
God;
may all the peoples praise you!
8 May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear
him!
Commentary
• In v.2, the psalmist prays for mercy
and blessings from God.
• V.3 gives the reason why:
– His way and salvation be known by
all nations.
• In v.5, the psalmist desires that all
peoples rejoice because of God’s
just rule and his guidance.
• In v.6, in parallel form, the psalmist
desires that peoples praise God.
• In v.8, the psalmist desires that
God’s blessings be upon all, like in
v.2.
• The psalmist also wishes that all
peoples revere the Lord.

7. Reflections on the Psalm
• We are supposed to appropriate (to make it
our own) the psalm.
• We can do this if we have good will and
sincerity of heart.
• Can you encourage groups and communities
to praise God, not only those who are close
to you?
• Do you have leadership?
• Do you have charisma?

8. 2nd reading: Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
• 13 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am
the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry 14 in
order to make my race jealous and thus save some of
them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the
world, what will their acceptance be but life from the
dead?
• 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30
Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received
mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have
now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy
shown to you, they too may (now) receive mercy. 32 For
God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have
mercy upon all.
The focus is on the call of God to all.

9. 2nd reading: Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
Paul’s vocation
• 13 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am
the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry 14 in
order to make my race jealous and thus save some of
them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the
world, what will their acceptance be but life from the
dead?
Call of God
• 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30
Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received
mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have
now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy
shown to you, they too may (now) receive mercy. 32 For
God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have
mercy upon all.
A simple outline!

10. 2nd reading: Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
Paul’s vocation
• 13 I am speaking to you
Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I
am the apostle to the Gentiles,
I glory in my ministry 14 in
order to make my race jealous
and thus save some of them.
15 For if their rejection is the
reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance be
but life from the dead?
Call of God
• 29 For the gifts and the call of
God are irrevocable. 30 Just
as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy
because of their disobedience,
31 so they have now
disobeyed in order that, by
virtue of the mercy shown to
you, they too may (now)
receive mercy. 32 For God
delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy
upon all.
Commentary
• Paul addresses himself to the Roman
Gentiles.
• He identifies himself as the apostle to
the Gentiles (not Jews).
• He is proud of his ministry. v.13
• In v.14, Paul states his reason:
– To make his fellow Jews jealous and
attract them to have faith in Christ,
thus, saving them.
– Their rejection of Christ is living in the
world.
– Their acceptance of Christ is
resurrection from the dead. V.15
• Paul affirms their gifts and vocation
as irrevocable, indelible. v.29
• The Gentile converts are gifted with
mercy…
• Paul hopes his fellow Jews will also
obtain mercy (gift). Vv.30-32
• Paul plays on the words
“(dis)obedience and mercy.”

11. Reflections on the 2nd reading
• People do not buy everything we say.
• We must be prepared to be disappointed when
doing our mission.
• Mission work does not mean automatic
acceptance of our message.
• Mission is pleading, appealing, cajoling, crying
over and is a passionate desire for people to be
better, to accept Christ in their lives.
• Do you easily give up because no one is paying
attention to you?

12. Gospel reading: Mt 15:21-28
• 21 At that time Jesus went from that place and withdrew
to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a
Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is
tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not say a word in
answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send
her away, for she keeps calling out after us." 24 He said
in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel." 25 But the woman came and did him homage,
saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He said in reply, "It is not
right to take the food of the children and throw it to the
dogs." 27 She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat
the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." 28
Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your
faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her
daughter was healed from that hour.
The focus is on the power of having faith.

13. Gospel reading: Mt 15:21-28
Setting
• 21 At that time Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region
of Tyre and Sidon.
The Canaanite Woman
• 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called
out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented
by a demon."
Jesus’ response
• 23 But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and
asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." 24 He
said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
The Insistent Canaanite Woman
• 25 But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
26 He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and
throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat
the scraps that fall from the table of their masters."
Jesus’ favorable response
• 28 Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it
be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that
hour.
A simple outline!

14. Gospel reading: Mt 15:21-28
Setting
• 21 At that time Jesus went
from that place and withdrew
to the region of Tyre and
Sidon.
The Canaanite Woman
• 22 And behold, a Canaanite
woman of that district came
and called out, "Have pity on
me, Lord, Son of David! My
daughter is tormented by a
demon."
Jesus’ response
• 23 But he did not say a word
in answer to her. His disciples
came and asked him, "Send
her away, for she keeps
calling out after us." 24 He
said in reply, "I was sent only
to the lost sheep of the house
of Israel."
Commentary
• Jesus is in a pagan territory,
somewhere in Lebanon. V.21
• Without any notice, a Canaanite
woman cries out to Jesus, pleading for
her daughter, who is possessed by a
demon. V.22
• The woman addresses Jesus as Lord
and Son of David. How did she know?
V.22
• Jesus does not readily respond. He is
mum.
• The disciples ask Jesus to send her
away. V.23
• Jesus claims he is sent only to the lost
sheep of Israel. (a kind of exclusivism
in Matthew).

15. Gospel reading: Mt 15:21-28
The Insistent Canaanite
Woman
• 25 But the woman came
and did him homage,
saying, "Lord, help me."
26 He said in reply, "It is
not right to take the food
of the children and
throw it to the dogs." 27
She said, "Please, Lord,
for even the dogs eat
the scraps that fall from
the table of their
masters."
Jesus’ favorable
response
• 28 Then Jesus said to
her in reply, "O woman,
great is your faith! Let it
be done for you as you
wish." And her daughter
was healed from that
hour.
• The woman approaches Jesus in
worship and repeats her prayer. V.25
• Jesus’ answer to the woman seems to
be ungentlemanly (very insulting!).
v.26
• The woman does not care. She
argues picking up Jesus’ argument
and turns it to her advantage. V.27
• The woman is aware of the
unresponsive Israelites.
• In v.28, Jesus is moved by the
response of the woman. It reveals her
deep faith in him.
• As a result, Jesus concedes to the
intercession of the woman.
• Her daughter is healed (the devil is gone).

16. Reflections on the gospel reading
• We can be like the Canaanite woman, when
asking for favors.
• We do not lose heart when, at first, God does
not seem to listen to us and all odds are against
us.
• Against all odds, we can score victory for our
loved ones, if we have great faith.
• The prayer of the Canaanite woman was
granted because she had great faith.

17. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
• The first reading teaches that living just and
righteous lives is required of everyone.
• The psalm urges everyone to praise God.
• The second reading indicates that God is bent
on saving everyone, even the disobedient ones.
• The gospel teaches that God listens to
everyone, who has great faith.

18. How to develop your homily / sharing
• If you have some doubts whether you are
saved or not, the readings have this to
say:
– God’s love is for everyone, just as he
challenges each one to live just and righteous
lives and to have strong faith.
• Everyone is called to be holy.

19. • The first reading foresees foreigners (non-
Jews) being given the privilege to worship
God in his holy mountain and holy Temple.
• They, too, obey God’s commands and,
therefore, they are also saved.

20. • The second reading strongly indicates Paul’s
efforts to facilitate the salvation of his fellow
Jews through Christ.
• He is willing to go to hell just to convince them to
believe in Jesus Christ.
• Like Paul, we must be passionate to do
everything to help people go to heaven.

21. • In the gospel, Jesus gives in to the demand of
the Canaanite woman.
• Because of her great faith, Jesus cures her
daughter.
• Jesus cannot ignore people, Jew or pagan, who
have faith in him.
• Faith is the channel in which God works miracles
for us.

22. • Through the readings, God invites all of us to
gather in his house, to belong to his family of the
redeemed.
• God does not discriminate against “foreigners” or
new converts.
• He puts them side by side with the old ones.
• God commands the old ones to exercise
righteousness and justice, to facilitate the
convergence of all peoples in his name.

23. • The readings also tell us…
– Not to be discriminatory
– Not to be exclusivistic, racist or xenophobic
– Not to make the church a club of homogenous people,
a monolith
• But, be passionate for the well-being and
salvation of people of all races, genders and
cultures…
• And, be compassionate to all who we think are
lowly or inferior but are searching for God.
• We must become missionaries who have deep
respect for others.
• Impatience and improper behavior torpedo
mission work.

24. • In the mass, Jesus invites us all, believers,
to participate in his meal.
• In the eucharist, Jesus assures all of us
who have faith of salvation.
• The eucharist is the sacrament of
universal brotherhood / family under the
one fatherhood of God.

25. Our Context of Sin and Grace
• Exclusivism
• Nationalism
• Ethnocentrism
• Elitism
• Monopoly
• Dismal human rights
record
• Religious bigotry
• Violent fraternities/
sororities
• Altruism
• Sportsmanship
• Internationalism
• Networking
• Ecumenism
• Linkages
• Worshipping together
• Community building
• Just and righteous living
• Strong faith

26. Suggested Songs
• You Are So Good
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spj_5sTiF5Y
• Buhay Maging Maligaya
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh0VyqcYK3I