Readings: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

First Reading

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1,6-7

    Thus says Yahweh: Maintain what is right and do what is just, for my salvation is close at hand, my justice is soon to come.

    Yahweh says to the foreigners who join him, serving him and loving his name, keeping his sabbath unprofaned and remaining faithful to his covenant:

    I will bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. I will accept on my altar their burnt offerings and sacrifices, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.

Responsorial Psalm

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 50:1,8,12-13,14-15

    R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

    Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem
    Praise you God, O Zion;
    For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
    he has blessed your children within you.
    R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

    He has granted peace in your borders;
    with the best of wheat he fills you.
    He sends forth his command to the earth;
    swiftly runs his word!
    R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

    He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
    his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
    He has not done thus for any other nation;
    his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia
    R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Second Reading

Second Reading: Romans 11:13-15,29-32

    Brothers and sisters, Listen to me, you who are not Jews: I am spending myself as an apostle to the pagan nations, but I hope my ministry will be successful enough to awaken the jealousy of those of my race, and finally to save some of them. If the world made peace with God when they remained apart, what will it be when they are welcomed? Nothing less than a passing from death to life. The call of God and his gift cannot be nullified.

    Through the rebellion of the Jews the mercy of God came to you who did not obey God. They in turn will receive mercy in due time after this rebellion that brought God's mercy to you. So God has submitted all to disobedience, in order to show his mercy to all.

Holy Gospel

Gospel Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

    At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Now a Canaanite woman came from those borders and began to cry out, "Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But Jesus did not answer her, not even a word. So his disciples approached him and said, "Send her away: see how she is shouting after us."

    Then Jesus said to her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel."
    But the woman was already kneeling before Jesus and said, "Sir, help me!" Jesus answered, "It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the little dogs." The woman replied, "It is true, sir, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table." Then Jesus said, "Woman, how great is your faith! Let it be as you wish." And her daughter was healed at that moment.