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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Second Reading: Extracted from the letter of saint Paul to the Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32 Let me tell you pagans this: I have been sent to the pagans as their apostle, and I am proud of being sent, but the purpose of it is to make my own people envious of you, and in this way save some of them. Since their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, do you know what their admission will mean? Nothing less than a resurrection from the dead! God never takes back his gifts or revoke his choice. Just as you changed from being disobedient to God, and now enjoy mercy because of their disobedience, so those who are disobedient now – and only because of the mercy shown to you – will also enjoy mercy eventually. God has imprisoned all men in their own disobedience only to show mercy to all mankind.
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia ! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia ! Or Alleluia, alleluia ! Jesus proclaimed the good News of the kingdom, and cured all kinds of sickness among the people. Alleluia ! |
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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Gospel Reading: Extracted from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But Jesus answered her not a word. And the disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.
Sharing: It was the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time on 17 August 2014.
The Readings that were read in the Eucharistic Celebrations all over the world on that day are shown in the previous page & above:
First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7, Responsorial: Psalm 67: 2-7, Second Reading: Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32 & Gospel Reading: Matthew 15:21-28.
We have extracted the Homilies of Saint Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI & Pope Francis I based on the aforesaid Readings to share with you, so that you could similarly be encouraged: |
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JOHN PAUL II ANGELUS Sunday, 11 August 2002
1. During this time of summer relaxation, when many are enjoying a deserved rest, I cannot stop thinking with great concern about the Holy Land. There, unfortunately, the almost daily episodes of reprehensible violence do not cease, taking the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters, victims of a deadly unending spiral of retaliation.
When will it be understood that the coexistence of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples cannot be brought about by arms? For it is neither attacks, nor walls that separate, nor even retaliation that will ever lead to a just solution of the continuing conflict. The Pope suffers with all those who weep because of bereavement and destruction; above all he is close to the numerous innocent victims who pay the price of this violence. He wishes to repeat to everyone, regardless of the ethnic group to which they belong, that there is no justification for those who kill defenceless civilians indiscriminately.
2. From 1967 till today, unspeakable sufferings have followed one upon another in a frightening manner: the suffering of the Palestinians, driven out of their land and forced, in recent times, into a state of permanent siege, becoming as it were the object of a collective punishment; the suffering of the Israeli population, who live in the daily terror of being targets of anonymous assailants.
To this we must add the violation of a fundamental right, that of freedom of worship. In effect, because of a strict curfew, believers no longer have access to their places of worship on the day of weekly prayer.
I think of you, beloved Christians: although not involved in terrorist activity and yet sharing the great affliction of your fellow citizens, you are now tempted to leave the Holy Land. The Pope and the whole Church are with you, and they renew their sentiments of profound solidarity and spiritual closeness.
3. Faced with this humanitarian tragedy, which does not seem to show any signs of hope, no one can remain indifferent. That is why, once again, I appeal to the Israeli and Palestinian political leadership to set out anew on the path of sincere negotiation. I ask the international community to work with greater resolve in being present in the area, offering its mediation in order to create the conditions for a fruitful dialogue that will speed the process towards peace. I call on Christians of every part of the world to join in my fervent and trusting prayer. Mary, Queen of Peace, grant that the cries of those who suffer and die in the Holy Land will finally be heard.
4. Je salue les pèlerins de langue française. Soyez des hommes et des femmes de foi, accueillants à l’amour du Seigneur et prêts à témoigner de lui! Avec la Bénédiction apostolique.
I cordially greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors. Upon you and your families I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace.
Ich grüße euch herzlich, liebe deutschsprachige Pilger und Besucher, und wünsche Euch einen schönen Sonntag.
Saludo a los peregrinos de lengua española. Llevad a vuestros hogares el afecto del Papa, que os bendice de todo corazón.
Rezai pela Paz no mundo ao Deus de Misericórdia. Com a minha Bênção, extensiva às vossas famílias e enfermos.
Saluto i pellegrini italiani qui presenti, in particolare le Suore Ancelle Francescane del Buon Pastore, che celebrano in questi giorni il Capitolo Generale. A tutti auguro ogni desiderato bene spirituale e una serena domenica.
Acknowledgment: We thank the Vatican Publisher for allowing us to publish the Homily of Saint Pope John Paul II, so that they could be accessed by more people all over the world; as a source of God’s encouragements to all of us. |
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BENEDICT XVI ANGELUS Castel Gandolfo
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On this 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the liturgy presents a rare example of faith to us: a Canaanite woman who asks Jesus to heal her daughter who was "terribly troubled by a demon". The Lord resisted her insistent entreaties and seemed impervious to them even when the disciples themselves interceded for her, as the Evangelist Matthew relates.
In the end, however, confronted by the perseverance and humility of this unknown woman, Jesus consented: "Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass" (cf. Matthew 15: 21-28). "Woman, you have great faith!". Jesus singles out this humble woman as an example of indomitable faith.
Her insistence in imploring Christ's intervention is an encouragement to us never to lose heart and not to despair, even in the harshest trials of life.
The Lord does not close his eyes to the needs of his children, and if he seems at times insensitive to their requests, it is only in order to test them and to temper their faith.
This is the witness of saints, this is especially the witness of martyrs, closely associated with the redeeming sacrifice of Christ.
In recent days, we have commemorated some of them: the Pontiffs, Pontianus and Sixtus II, the priest Hippolytus, Lawrence the Deacon with his companions, killed in Rome at the dawn of Christianity.
We have also commemorated a martyr of our time, St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, Co-Patroness of Europe, who died in a concentration camp; and on this very day the liturgy presents to us a martyr of charity who sealed his witness of love for Christ in the bunker of starvation at Auschwitz: St Maximilian Maria Kolbe, who willingly sacrificed himself in place of a father with a family.
I invite every baptized person and especially the young people who will be taking part in World Youth Day to look at this shining example of Gospel heroism. I invoke upon them all their protection and in particular, that of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, who spent several years of her life at the Carmelite convent in Cologne.
May Mary, Queen of Martyrs, whom we will contemplate tomorrow in her glorious Assumption into Heaven, watch over each one.
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After the praying of the Angelus, the Holy Father said to the English-speaking pilgrims present:
I greet all the English-speaking visitors present today. I hope that your visit to Castel Gandolfo and Rome will be a source of physical and spiritual renewal, so that you return home strengthened in faith and Christian love. I invite you to join me during these days in praying for the success of the coming World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. May the Lord bless you and your families!
7 September 2014 |