August 16, 2020 - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“May God have pity on us and bless us;

may God let his face shine upon us.”

Psalm 67:2

Readings

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

Gospel according to Matthew 15:21-28

Reflection

By Sister Dorothy Jean Beyer

Some days I feel like this desperate Canaanite woman, calling out to Jesus, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David.” Have pity, have mercy on our whole world. Jesus, there is so much suffering and pain in our world, in our country, in our cities. I, we need your tender mercy to heal the brokenhearted, the angry, the depressed, the poor and the homeless. Help us, Lord. Have pity.

Trust! Jesus carries us and loves us. He does not abandon us. He is with us no matter what. He recognizes our faith, hope and love. To rely on Jesus completely, we must give up our need to control. We must abandon ourselves to Him. We must pray fervently.

Trust, and trust again. His tender mercy falls on us in cascading, overflowing abundance. May Jesus say to us as He did to the Canaanite woman, “O woman (or O man), great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you wish.”

From the Rule of St. Benedict

“And finally, never lose hope in God’s mercy.”.” Rule of Benedict 4:74

Gospel Acclamation

“Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.” Cf. Matthew 4:23