HOMILY FOR TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A. 16.08.2020

Readings: Isaiah 56:1.6-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13-15.29-32 and Matthew 15:21-28. 

COMPLIANCE TO THE LAWS FOR OUR SALVATION. 

 

On Friday, 14th of August this year, I read the speech of the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, on his update and efforts to combat the present pandemic. The fourth paragraph of his speech draws my attention, which is in relation to the liturgy of today, when he said, “It is of great importance that all stakeholders fully comply with the agreed guidelines, so that, together we can further flatten the curve of this pandemic.” He went further to restate the guidelines and made an emphases of NOT HESITATING to shutdown religious centers through his task force if any of these guiding principles are disobeyed. While the task force are roaming around like a roaring lion, ready to devour any lawbreaker, the liturgy of today invites us to experience GOD’S MERCY AND SALVATION.

 

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah made known to us the promise of God for those outside the boarders of Israel. Through the prophet, God wants us to realize that His mercy has no limit or boundaries. His mercy is available for all tribe, people, nations, race or language who are ready and willing to accept His invitation to salvation and his mercy is not restricted only to the faithful Israelites. That is why the prophet said, “The foreigners or those considered to be outside the boarders, God will bring them to His holy mountain, His salvation will come to them and His deliverance will be revealed. Everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and hold fast my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer.” Put differently, the prophet Isaiah tells us that there is no discrimination or favoritism when it comes to God’s mercy.

 

In the second reading, God’s abundance mercy keeps reflecting as he allows Israel to stumble so that salvation can reach the Gentiles. St. Paul as a Jew extend the mercy of God to the Gentiles so that they can be part of His salvation plan. This extension of God’s mercy is made visible in today’s reading when he referred to the Jews saying, “Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedient, so they have now been disobedient in other that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy.” This way, St. Paul wants us to realize that both Jews and Gentiles have broken the laws of God, yet God offers us mercy and reconciliation through his Son Jesus Christ, which is the gift of God to humanity and it is irrevocable. This means God will never give up on us, despite our constant breaking of the laws, he will keep showing mercy; for mercy is His nature. He is a God, who does not wait for his people to violate the laws in other to execute adequate punishment without hesitation. He is full of mercy. However, we are encouraged to reciprocate this mercy of God as we respond positively to his call.

 

The Canaanite Woman

Similarly, Christ in the Gospel extend his salvation to the district of Tyre and Sidon, which were Gentile or pagan territories. Here in this territory He encountered a Canaanite woman who expressed great faith of intercession on behalf of her daughter who was severely possessed by a demon and needed salvation. At this encounter, the mercy of God is reflected again when she cried out, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.” Despite her, living among sinners, she recognize Christ as the source of her salvation, making her daughter’s intension her owns’ intension before Christ. Despite the discouragements received when Christ said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”, she never gave up in her faith, rather she made a simple and beautiful prayer saying, “LORD HELP ME.” At this point of encounter between the Canaanite woman and Christ, this Gentile territory became a place of prayer, which reflect the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading, “for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Not just for the Jews, but now the Gentiles who wish and are ready to respond to God’s invitation. With this in mind, we can say the Church is made up of saints and sinners. Still on her faith, after receiving discouraging words, there came an encouraging word in Christ’s response to her, which is similar to the way He responded to the Roman centurion who interceded for his servant in Mt 8:5-13. Christ said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” Through her faith, her daughter was healed.

 

Dear friends in Christ, two good examples of great faith Christ applauded were from unexpected places (the centurion and the Canaanite woman). This goes a long way to tell us that God’s mission to save us has no boundary. All He demands from us is compliance to His laws, which supersedes every human laws. If we are so conscious of not breaking government policies or guidelines because of its consequences, how often do we break God’s laws and yet He keeps showing mercy to us? Let us pray like the Canaanite woman to constantly keep God’s laws at heart and ask Him for mercy for moments we have sinned against Him. In all situations we pass through, challenges, joys and sorrows, we pray: LORD HELP US! Peace be with you!

 

Happy Sunday and God Bless Your Week!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ