Greetings (See First Reading)
My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples, says the Lord. As the Lord welcomes us, may we be open to all. May the Lord, the Savior of all, be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
- How Catholic Are We?
How wide are the doors of our Church? Is there place in our Church for everyone? We know and profess that God is the Father of all people. We believe and announce that Jesus died for everyone and all. Yet, is that the reality? We even look down on other Christians, and at times on other Catholics too, because they do not honor the Lord in exactly the same way as we do. Let us ask the Lord of all to help us do away with all discrimination and with him to make us open to all.
Strangers No More
What do we think of aliens and strangers and how do we treat them? What is our attitude toward people who are different? The Christian position should be one of acceptance and welcome, for this is God’s attitude. All are God's children, and he wants the happiness of all. He calls all to his house and wants it to be a house of prayer for all. With Christ, let us welcome all.
Penitential Act
Let us ask pardon from God and one another that our hearts are often closed and not as wide as God's heart. (pause) Lord Jesus, Son of David, you revealed to us your Father as the God of all people: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you came to save all people and you died and rose for all: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy
Lord Jesus, you hear the prayer of pagans and make yourself known to all those who seek you: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us our narrow-mindedness and our selfishness. Give us wide open hearts and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray to the Father of all that our heart, like his own, may be open to all people (pause)
Father of all, long ago you chose the people of Israel to make your name known to all the nations. Your Son Jesus Christ made it clear that forgiveness and fullness of life are the share of all who believe in him. Make your Church truly a place of encounter for all those who grope for you, that all obstacles and barriers may be removed and that the riches of all nations and cultures may reveal the thousand faces of the love you show us in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Is 56:1,6-7): Foreigners Are No Longer Strangers
Not only the Jewish people but also pagans are called to live in the house of God. All those who want to be part of the covenant are no longer strangers to God and his people.
Second Reading (Rom 11:13-15,29-32): God’s Mercy Extends to All
Most of the Jews did not accept Christ as the Savior. This was the occasion for the Church to preach the Good News to the pagans. God wants all to be saved, Jews and pagans.
Gospel (Mt 15:21-28): There Is Room for Pagans in the Father’s House
Jesus affirms that priority is given to the Jews as heirs of the Messianic promises. Yet the kingdom is open to all who believe.
Intercessions
Let us pray to God our Father, who opens his heart and home to all who seek him, and let us say: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That the Church may be attentive to the life and needs of today’s world and discover in its aspirations bridges toward Christian hope, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That there may be room in the universal Church for the cultural riches of various peoples and for manifesting one and the same faith in a variety of languages and forms of expression, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That the Jews, the first people called by God, may see their hopes fulfilled and one day discover Christ as their Savior, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That we may open our hearts and homes to those that are hard to accommodate: strangers and refugees, the jobless and the poor, victims of discrimination and oppression; that we may do all we can to integrate them into the human and Christian community, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That all of us here may be concerned about those who are not here because they are estranged from the Church, that our lives may reveal Christ to them, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
God our Father, do not allow us ever to become a self-enclosed, self-satisfied group, but make us into a real community open to all people and all needs, on account of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer unnoticed—it takes place normally during the Agnus Dei—and the Gifts
God our Father, you set the table of your Son for all who are willing to come: for saints and for sinners, for the poor and the rich. Give us your Son Jesus Christ. May we learn from him to give to all those who ask for food or love not meager crumbs or leftovers, but the food of ourselves, as Jesus does here for us, your Son and our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration we remember that Christ died and rose for all and wants to gather all into his kingdom.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
In the words of Jesus our Lord let us pray to the Father of all that his kingdom may come to every person on earth.
R/ Our Father...
Prayer for Peace
Lord Jesus Christ, you want to bring the peace of your kingdom to everyone willing to receive your love. At the table of your kingdom you regard no one as a stranger. Dispose us too, to recognize in every person a beloved son or daughter of your Father. Make us share your peace with all and lead all into your kingdom where you live for ever. R/ Amen.
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord, who has set his table for us. He invites all those who believe in him and are willing to come to him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, in this Eucharist we have all been one in Jesus Christ your Son. He died and rose to life for all; his likeness is reflected in the face of every human being: let it become visible in all. Let his face not be marred or divided by our prejudices and fears; do not allow our love to be less than universal, but unite us all in him who is our common way to you and to one another, Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We have heard the Lord tell us in this Eucharist: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” The Lord’s house is not merely this building of stone where we gather to pray, but the People of God, the living body of Christ. May there be room in this house, that is, among us, in our Christian communities, for all people, whatever their race or social class, their culture or education. May almighty God bless you all: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go and bear witness to the world-wide love of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.
Reflection: Aug 20
Matthew 15:21-28
Perseverance in faith
A Canaanite woman calls out to Jesus, “Have pity on me.” It sounds like a self-absorbed prayer. And it is - in a way. Her next words demonstrate the anguish she feels: “My daughter is tormented by a demon.” It’s a cry of unabated anguish, for herself and her daughter. This gospel talks about faith. The woman knew that Jesus is the only one who could help her and she believed in it. As a result, she was persistent and did not let the disciples' irritation or Jesus' offhand remark discourage her.
John Chrysostom speaks about this woman's perseverance in faith in humility:
“See her humility as well as her faith! For he had called the Jews ‘children,’ but she was not satisfied with this. She even called them 'masters,' so far was she fromgrieving at the praises of others. She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’ Behold the woman's wisdom! She did not venture so much as to say a word against anyone else. She was not stung to see others praised, nor was she indignant to be reproached. Behold her constancy. When he answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,’ she said, ‘Yes, Lord.' He called them ‘children,’ but she called them ‘masters.’ He used the name of a dog, but she described the action of a dog.
Do you see the woman’s humility? ...Do you see how this woman, too, contributed not a little to the healing of her daughter? For note that Christ did not say, ‘Let your little daughter be made whole,’ but ‘Great is your faith, be it done for you as you desire.’ These words were not uttered at random, nor were they flattering words, but great was the power of her faith, and for our learning. He left the certain test and demonstration, however, to the issue of events. Her daughter accordingly was immediately healed.”
In our life, we will face many hardships and it weakens our faith. But the gospel reminds us to keep the faith, keep on praying because God is listening and waiting for the perfect time to bestow on us the blessings that we are asking for.
