Faith Knows No Limits

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
17 August 2008


We are God’s people, the sheep of his flock: come, let us worship him, alleluia.


First reading: Isaiah 56:1 - 7
Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest.Foreigners who have attached themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love his name and be his servants – all who observe the sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.

Second reading: Romans 11:13 - 32
Let me tell you pagans this: I have been sent to the pagans as their apostle, and I am proud of being sent, but the purpose of it is to make my own people envious of you, and in this way save some of them. Since their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, do you know what their admission will mean? Nothing less than a resurrection from the dead! God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice. Just as you changed from being disobedient to God, and now enjoy mercy because of their disobedience, so those who are disobedient now – and only because of the mercy shown to you – will also enjoy mercy eventually. God has imprisoned all men in their own disobedience only to show mercy to all mankind.

Gospel: Matthew 15:21 - 28
Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Reflection
By Anabelle Payod-Balla

This Sunday’s Gospel reminds me of another story in the Bible where a woman believed that if she could only touch even the hem of Jesus’ clothes, she will already be healed. And it happened. Her faith cured her instantly!

I think you’ll agree with me that these kinds of sudden healings are still happening today. There are many stories, many testimonies about these and we often refer to them as “miracles”. Yes, we call it a miracle when something we thought is impossible becomes possible through prayers and faith in God. These real stories of miracles are probably the reasons why we have so many Healing Masses nowadays and why in every Healing Mass, hundreds of people come to participate. There are witnesses, many live witnesses of what faith can do. What is there to doubt?

Another thing that struck me in the Gospel is that the woman’s remarkable faith has moved Jesus to oblige to her request even though she is not one of those lost sheep of Israel that Jesus came to save. This shows how faith can transcend limits! I believe that anyone with great faith finds favor in Jesus’ eyes no matter what and who they are. And how lucky we are for having Jesus whose power has no limits! I am truly grateful.

To keep our faith strong and firm as ever, let us continue to move closer to Jesus by grabbing every chance to talk with Him every now and then.



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Oh Jesus, I praise You, I worship You. Thank You for the gift of faith. Please help me to keep it strong and inspire others to believe in You so they too, can enjoy Your miracles. Amen.

Have faith and receive Jesus’ sweet response, “Let it be as you wish”.