HOMILY FOR 20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
THEME: ALL NATIONS HAVE BEEN SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
BY: Fr. Boniface Ogonna.
1st reading. Is 53: 1. 6-7
Resp. Ps 66: 2-3. 5-6
2nd reading. Rom 11: 13-15. 29-32
Gospel. Mt 15: 21-28
Today, the Church draws our attention to God’s invitation and mercy to humanity. God’s invitation and mercy are without borders. This means that we all have equal opportunities to do it through our response of faith.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE 20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
In the first reading, God promises to bring all nations together. This is the expansion and extension of His salvation project toward all nations of the earth. First, this project began with, and was for Israel, “God’s firstborn” (Ex 2:22). Now, out of his mercy, God extends it to all other nations of the earth. This demonstrates God’s mercy for all nations who will respond to his invitation through faith. So, God promises that He will bring even foreigners to his house: “These, I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house.” However, this promise is based on one condition. “They have attached themselves to the Lord in order to love him and to serve him.”
In the second reading, Paul also struck the same chord as Isaiah. It suffices to note that when Paul says, “Mercy to all,” he is not saying God will save everyone. Instead, His mercy is available to all those who will respond accordingly to his invitation. For “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2: 21).
So, Paul demonstrates his confidence in God’s mercy. He insists that, although some have rejected God as Israel (the covenant people) did, God himself has not rejected or forgotten them. This is because “God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.” He is trustworthy and faithful to his word and promise.
Hence, Paul reminds us that God has not forgotten his chosen people even though they disobeyed Him. No, God does not give up on anyone, even those who rejected him. Instead, He continues to wait patiently for all. So, Paul warns us not to be proud or unmerciful to others because of the mercy we have received from Christ. This is because our situation has nothing to do with merits. Instead, we are who we are through the mercy and kindness of God. Indeed, “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8).
Today’s gospel goes further to illustrate the universality of God’s mercy. However, the fact that Jesus initially hesitated to listen to the woman perhaps could have been to test her faith. In order words, even though God is ready to show us mercy, he requires something from us: “faith as small as the mustard seed” (Mt 17: 20). An essential requirement for receiving this mercy is the amount of faith we demonstrate in Jesus Christ.
The woman demonstrated her faith in Christ. Of course, Christ showed her mercy by healing her daughter. Her persistence is also worth emulating. Despite all odds and what looked like Jesus’ refusal to answer her, she did not give up. So, like this Canaanite woman, each one needs God’s mercy. We need to demonstrate our faith in Christ, and he will show us his mercy. Today, Jesus is close to us. So, like this woman, we must cry to Him: “Son of David, take pity on me.”
Happy Sunday celebration
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