17th August - Twentiethh Sunday in Ordinary Time : Outrageous Grace

 

First Reading         :  Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Psalm                     : Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
Second Reading     : Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
Gospel                    : Matthew 15:21-28  

 

God’s grace is outrageous, meaning it comes in search of the person who least deserves it. Therefore it might look as scandalous for some. Jews, in the time of Jesus, thought high of themselves. They believed that it’s the fact of being a Jew that brings them God’s favour. But Jesus tried to change this attitude and show them that they were wrong and that what is needed to receive God’s mercy is not the fact that one is a Jew. Jesus showed them that it is only the person who is humble, the one who has a deep faith and the one who accepts his/her nothingness can win God’s favour.  This is exactly what we see in the Canaanite woman of the Gospel. Jesus had to purify her intentions and bring her into a deeper faith before granting her wish. She had humility, she had a deeper faith and she accepted her lowliness and that made God to look down on her. May we follow her example.