Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 07, 2024
Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time
07th August 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-7
At that time, declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Arise, and let us go up to Sion, to the Lord our God.’” For thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’
Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13 (R. see 10d)
R/. The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. A great prophet has arisen among us and God has visited his people!
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 15:21-28
At that time: Jesus went away and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Every favour and every act of God’s grace is nothing but a concrete manifestation of God’s abiding love and unfailing mercy
1. A pagan Canaanite woman approaches Jesus for the healing of her possessed daughter. She cries out to him from the depths of her heart, “Have mercy on me, o Lord; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon”. It is not a mere request for a favour. It is a profound act of faith. How? She was aware of her need and affliction; she was totally trustful of his power and kindness to heal. She was also utterly humble to plead for his mercy.
2. Further, her faith was not an easy go. It had to go through apparent indifference, discrimination, humiliation, and rejection. For, initially Jesus uttered no word. He would discriminate and exclude her, saying that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. He would apparently humiliate her, saying that “it is not fair to throw away children’s bread to the dogs”.
3. Is she a dog, so despicable and undeserving? Is she a beggar at the mercy of the Jews, the chosen race? Does she not have dignity and honour, just because she is a non-Jew? Humanly speaking, this statement is very degrading and humiliating. But she is not carried away by hurt. Her faith is focused and determined. She knows what she wants from Jesus. And nothing, even the apparent despisal of Jesus would turn her aside from obtaining that grace from Jesus.
4. We do not know exactly what is the intention and purpose of Jesus in pronouncing such separatist and derogative statements. Certainly, they are not out of a prejudiced and discriminative mind. He never intends to disrespect anyone because he came precisely to restore dignity and respectability. His grace and love know no bounds.
5. That is what God reiterates in the first reading: I have loved you with an everlasting love. I continued my faithfulness to you. I will revive your fortunes, and rebuild your prosperity. There will be dignity and joy again. So such a merciful and magnanimous God cannot be despising and discard anyone on the basis of race or region.
6. There can be different possible purposes. Maybe Jesus wants to test her faith as he praises her faith at the end. Maybe, he wants to indirectly expose the shallowness of the faith of the so-called God’s own people. Thus, her faith is an indirect test, a poking, and a challenge for the faith of the Jews themselves. Maybe, Jesus wants to present her faith as a testimony of authentic faith.
7. But amidst all these, what is most notable is her faith, a rock-like faith, persevering even amidst odds. “Even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”. She is firm in her insistence and smart as well. She makes it clear that the children are not deprived of their legitimate share because what she gets is only what falls from their bread and is not robbed away from their mouths. And she is not receiving from the children but from the master’s table. Thereby, her concern is with the master and not so much with the children.
Practice: Just because we carry the tag of the people of God, there is no guarantee that we deserve God’s grace and healing. Ultimately what decides the issue is the depth and perseverance of our faith
