TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Ezekiel 18:25-28; Psalm 25:4-9; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32

In the gospel, the first son replied to his father, “I will not,” afterwards changed his mind and did his father’s will. But the second son replied, “Yes, sir,” but did not do his father’s will. Jesus used the parable to address the chief priests and the elders who refused to accept him as the savior sent by God. The second son represents them. While the first son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes who repented and believed in Jesus. The gospel helps us to understand the first reading.  The Jewish leaders were the virtuous persons who turned away from virtue to commit iniquity, while the tax collectors and prostitutes were the wicked who turned away from wickedness.

 

The readings invite us to examine the way and manner we live out our callings and responsibilities. We make all kinds of commitments, promises, oaths, vows, covenants, and agreements when we accept our various callings and responsibilities. Many times, we fall short of them. All the great speeches and colorful ceremonies eventually mean little or nothing. In this way, we are like the second son.

 

St. Paul advises us in the second reading that to be true to our callings and responsibilities, we are to have in us the same attitude that is in Jesus Christ who did nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory. Rather, he emptied and humbled himself and was obedient to God to the point of death on a cross.

 

We can name from the readings three vices which make us fall short of our callings and responsibilities. The vices are pride, selfishness, and disobedience.  These vices have resulted to the downfall of many people. Therefore, in order to preserve our lives, our callings, and our responsibilities, we are to keep away from these vices.

 

Because of Christ’s humility, obedience, and selflessness, “God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name…” Therefore, if we embrace these virtues (humility, obedience, and selflessness), God will also raise us to greater heights.

 

The first reading says, “When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.” There are many instances of people who start very well, then veer off to bad ways, and end up badly. We see this happen in all aspects of life. Revelation 2:4-5 summons us, “I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first.”

 

The first son replied, ‘“I will not,’ but afterwards, he changed his mind and went.” This son teaches us to reflect over our decisions and actions. We are encouraged to admit our errors, take necessary corrections, and make necessary changes. The virtues of humility, obedience, and selflessness enable us to take corrections and make changes with less stress. The vices of pride, selfishness, and disobedience keep us blind to truth. Disobedience drains more energy, time, emotional stamina, and stress than simply following instructions or guidance.

 

The second son replied, ‘“Yes, Sir,’ but did not go.” Failed commitments, broken promises, broken oaths, broken vows, broken covenants, and broken agreements have left us with a broken world, broken countries, a wounded Church, broken institutions, broken communities, broken homes, broken marriages, broken relationships, broken friendships, and broken hearts. These failures and brokenness cause much pain and distress to many people and the death of many people.  We pray for conversion and healing.

 

Yes, all of us have fallen short in our callings and responsibilities in one way or another. We pray for the grace of humility, obedience, and selflessness. We pray with today’s Psalm, “Your ways, O Lord make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. … Good and upright is the Lord; thus, he shows sinners the way” (Psalm 25:4-5, 8).

 

Yes, all of us are broken in one way or another. We dwell in broken places. We have to deal with broken people and broken situations all the time. We live in a broken society and in a broken world. Our imperfections and afflictions are our brokenness. Sadly, some people seek vanities to fix their brokenness. Some people seek solutions from unholy spiritual forces. Vanities and unholy spiritual forces lead to addictions, bondage, and destruction. Scripture says, “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). “Those who trust in their riches will fall” (Proverbs 11:28). “They multiply their sorrows who seek other gods” (Psalm 16:4). “Better the threshold of the house of my God than a home in the [palace of the devil]” (Psalm 84:11).

 

We are invited to bring our falls and brokenness to God for all the graces we need. He is the only One who puts us together again and sustains us. He heals brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). Amen.

 

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 2026, BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah tells us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts nor his ways our ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are God’s ways above our ways, and his thoughts above our thoughts. Meaning, (1) Human beings plans are limited based on what they can see right now and what they imagine will happen. But God sees the whole picture into eternity. (2) Therefore, instead of demanding that God fit into human wisdom, standards, and expectations, we are invited to surrender our own limited viewpoints to God and trust in him. St. Paul says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God” (1 Corinthians 3:19).

 

The parable in today’s gospel goes against the wisdom of this world. In the parable, the same wage is paid to those who worked all day, those who worked for a few hours, and those who worked for only one hour. Judging from human wisdom, standards, and expectations, the landowner acted unfairly.

 

However, Jesus did not tell this parable to teach employers how to pay workers. With this parable, Jesus taught the lawyers, the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the chief priests that although the Gentiles received the message of salvation later than the Jews, the Gentiles would have equal share in the Kingdom of God. Salvation and heaven are not classed. Before and during the era of Jesus, the Jewish religious leaders and legal experts exhibited a strong sense of entitlement.

 

In our time, there are places where some people, due to their entitlement mentality, deny others their rights and privileges. There are places where some people, due to their entitlement mentality, render others as nobodies. St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). The way of the gospel of Christ is as St. Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Jesus prays for us in John 17:21, “I pray that they may be one….”

 

The message today stands against preferential treatments and exclusiveness entrenched in our structures. Sadly, these vices rear their ugly heads in families, organizations, communities, churches, society, and so on. Where do we not find the vises of preferential treatments and exclusiveness? The only solution is to conduct ourselves, as St. Paul challenges us, in the way of the gospel of Christ. We pray the prayer of Jesus, that we may be one.

 

The parable in today’s gospel is one of the biblical explanations why the Catholic Church performs the Last Rite (the Sacrament of Extreme Unction) on those in danger of death or the dying in the hope of the individuals’ repentance and God’s forgiveness of their sins and be welcomed into his kingdom. The dying thief crucified by the side of Jesus received forgiveness just before his death and was welcomed into paradise (Luke 23:43).

 

Jesus concludes his instruction in today’s gospel with the following words, “The last will be the first, and the first will be the last.” This reminds me of a boxing tournament where the boxer who had only 50 points knocked out his opponent who had 150 points within the last twenty seconds of the fight. There are many instances like this. The unemployed men who stood at the marketplace did not walk away in discouragement. They remained until 5pm! Their perseverance, patience, waiting, and hope paid off!

 

Many times, we are tempted or actually fall into the temptation of writing off others or writing ourselves off. We ask dismissive questions, just like Nathaniel in John 1:46, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” We forget that Mary Magdalene became St. Mary Magdalene, and that Saul became St. Paul. And a host of other ‘lasts’ that became ‘firsts.’ We forget the words of Scripture in 1 Samuel 2:5, “She who was barren has borne seven children…” Therefore, do not rush to conclude, to dismiss, and to write off. Something greatest eventually came out of Nazareth!

 

Therefore, be patient. Persevere. Keep hoping. Keep trying. Keep praying. Do not give up. Do not walk away in discouragement or despair. Many blessings had occurred in the nick of time. Your 11th hour blessing may be on its way! Amen.

 

 _(Note: 5pm is the 11th hour because ancient Roman and Jewish timekeeping counted 12 hours of daylight from sunrise to sunset. Sunrise is 6am, which hour 1. Sunset is 6pm which is hour 12)._ 

 

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35

 

Christianity is the most radical of all religions because of its teaching on forgiveness. No other religion has so much emphasis on forgiveness as in Christianity. Retaliation and revenge are clearly enshrined in the spirituality of some religions and many cultures, and deep in the way of life of many men and women. The first reading says, “Anger and wrath are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.” The reading explains how forgiveness is important to our prayer life and our relationship with God: “Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself; can he seek pardon for his own sins?” Jesus emphasizes this teaching on forgiveness in Mark 11:25-26, “And when you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your heavenly Father may also forgive your sins.” We pray in the Lord’s Prayer “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12). The first reading admonishes us, “Remember the last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!”

 

One of the lessons we can draw from today’s gospel parable is that we sin against God every day but he does not treat us according to our sins. Today’s Psalm says, “Who pardons all your iniquities, and heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction and crowns you with kindness and compassion. He will not always chide nor does he keep his wrath forever, not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens tower over the earth, so surpassing is his kindness towards those who fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has he has put our transgressions from us.”

 

Yet, many times we are very unforgiving to one another, even over minor offenses. At the end of the Lord’s Prayer Jesus cautions us, “If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either” (Matthew 6:14-15). St. James further warns us, “For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy” (James 2:12). This is repeating the message of the first reading.

 

However, we must not confuse justice with forgiveness. Justice aims to correct a wrong through lawful or restorative means. Justice aims to protect others and seek lawful accountability without being driven by hatred or a desire for revenge. Evil breeds and flourishes where there is no justice. To expect forgiveness in the middle of an on-going assault or aggression does not make sense. For forgiveness to be truly meaningful and for healing to occur, the aggression must first stop, regardless of whether there is an apology or justice. That is why we have the Defense Department and Law Maintenance and Law Enforcement Departments. That is why the Catholic Church Just War Doctrine defines the conditions under which force can be used to halt aggression and protect a victim or victims.  We continue to pray for the repentance of those who inflict pain on others.

 

When an assault or an aggression is over (regardless of whether there is an apology or justice), forgiveness follows, and healing is possible. Forgiveness is a personal choice to let go of bitterness, hatred, and the desire for personal revenge so that the victim can find inner peace. Deacon Ignatius Joseph says, “If you do not confess your sins, you keep your sins.” In the same sense, if you do not forgive the sins against you, you keep them with you. That is to say, you keep the hurt, the pain, and the grief. Depending on the depth of the hurt, healing after forgiveness can be a gradual process. It requires prayer and patience.

 

Sometimes, we ask, “I have forgiven my someone, yet I still remember the offense. Does it mean that I have not forgiven the person?” We must not underestimate the immense power of memory. Some experiences can remain in our memory for a very long, and sometimes forever. However, prayer, time, and goodwill can heal and erase the hurt, even if we still do remember the experience. When this happens, the offense may be remembered, but faintly.

 

We know that forgiveness and healing have taken place:

 

(1) When the offense is no longer vivid in our mind. We have forgotten the details.

 

(2) When we no longer make reference to the offense to support any kind of claim or reason for our actions.

 

(3) When we are no longer upset when we remember the offense or the offender.

 

(4) When we, in no way, wish to retaliate or wish misfortune to the offender.

 

(5) When we treat the offender with acceptance, understanding, and kindness.

 

(6) When we remember the offense, we are grateful for the lesson or lessons we learned from the experience.

 

(7) When we remember the offense, we acknowledge that we have, also, offended other people many times and in many ways. We, also, are in need of forgiveness.

 

Let us conclude with the words of St. Paul (Ephesians 4:32), “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” May God grant us the grace to reconcile, the grace to forgive, and the grace to be healed. Amen.

 

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A 2026, BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 13:13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

 

The people of Israel’s disloyalty to God resulted in their conquest and captivity by Babylon. While in exile in Babylon, God did not abandon them. God called one of them, Ezekiel, to prophesy to them. In the first reading, God spoke to Ezekiel, “I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel…”

 

In the same way, God has appointed each one of us to watch over one another and to be one another’s keeper. Priests are appointed to watch over the faithful and the faithful are to watch over their priests. Family members are appointed to watch over one another. Neighbors are appointed to watch over one another. Church members, coworkers, business partners, colleagues, and so on are appointed to watch over one another. We are not appointed to fight and destroy one another. Rulers and leaders are appointed to watch over the citizens; not neglect them, or mistreat them, or abandon them, or steal what belongs to them, or kill them. No one should be like Cain who murdered his brother and questioned God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

 

God called Ezekiel to speak truth to his people to save them. In the same way, God calls us to speak truth to one another to save one another. God says in the first reading, “If you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I shall require from your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.” St. James writes, “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Therefore, God has not called us to rumor, or to gossip, or to slander, or to be silent in the face of evil.

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “Silence in the face of evil is evil: God will not hold us guiltless.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was executed for his role in the political resistance against Adolf Hitler. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated that remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing makes a person cooperative with evil and that the inaction of good people is a greater tragedy than the acts of bad people. He was equally executed.

 

While we are challenged to speak truth to one another, we are also challenged to accept the truth we hear and not harden our hearts or shoot the messenger. Some people are like the guilty Hebrew man who attacked Moses for correcting him, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?” (Exodus 2:14).

 

Watching over one another and speaking truth to one another are acts of love. That is why St. Paul writes in the second reading, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another… hence, love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). St. Jerome recorded that St. John the Evangelist lived to about 100 years old. He became so frail and weak that he could no longer walk and had to be carried by his disciples into the gatherings of believers in Ephesus. Because he lacked the strength for long or complex preaching, he would simply address the church with the same words every week: “Little children, love one another.” Growing weary of hearing the exact same phrase week after week, the disciples finally asked him, “Master, why do you always say this?” St. John replied, “Because it is the Lord's command, and if this only is done, it is enough.”

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus presents to us a difficult and a radical act of love, which is to make humbling personal extra efforts to seek reconciliation. St. Paul refers to this spiritual maturity as “becoming a fool for Christ” (1 Corinthian 4:10). It takes prayer and God’s graces of humility, courage, and perseverance to follow the four steps of seeking reconciliation which Jesus commands: Step one: Don’t presume, don’t rumor, don’t gossip, don’t grudge, don’t malign, don’t slander, don’t conclude. Initiate a private meeting for reconciliation. If the private meeting fails, don’t give up, proceed to step two: Make a second attempt with one or two mediators. If the second attempt fails, still don’t give up, proceed to step three: Bring the matter to the leadership or the community. After these three steps and the person still refuses reconciliation, then step four: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This means that we do not fight or retaliate against someone who remains unreconciled. We are to pray for the person and treat the person with empathy.

 

Jesus continues in today’s gospel, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18-20).

 

Prophet Amos asks, “Do two journey together unless they have agreed?” (Amos 3:3). The answer is, “No.” Therefore, let us be in agreement and journey together and watch over one another. Then, there will be the positive energy of doing things together, praying together, and binding and loosing in Jesus’ name, and we will experience his presence in our midst. The psalmist exclaims, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (Psalm 133:1-3).

 

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

 

We are all carrying various kinds and sizes of crosses. That is why Jesus invites us in today’s gospel, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). “Deny oneself” means to surrender one’s personal plans to God and put God first. Our crosses are our afflictions, difficulties, trials, temptations, responsibilities, love of God and love of neighbor, and our faith journey.

 

In the first reading, Prophet Jeremiah’s cross was his responsibility to prophesy to his people, their rejection of him, and the persecution he suffered in their hands.

 

When God called Jeremiah, he said to him, “To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you … See, I place my words in your mouth! Today, I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:7-10).

 

The first reading was a time Jeremiah felt that God had not fulfilled his promises to him, “to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish.” Rather, he continued to see “terror on every side” and hear “denounce him, denounce him” (Jeremiah 20:10). In his frustration, Jeremiah accused God of duping him (deceiving him). He wanted to stop prophesying. “I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” Despite how he felt, Jeremiah did not give up. He continued to prophesy. The prophesy of Jeremiah does end with chapter 20 of the first reading, it ends with chapter 52. Jeremiah teaches us to continue the work of God even when the work is not recognized, and when there is no apparent good result, and when one is not appreciated, and when one is persecuted for no just reason. That is the way to carry our crosses and follow Jesus.

 

St. Paul encourages us in the second reading not to embrace the standard of “If you can’t beat them, join them.” St. Paul encourages us, “Do not conform yourselves to this present age…” We are to remain steadfast to the will of God, to what is good and to what is pleasing to God. Not what is pleasing “to this present age.” That is the way to carry our crosses and follow Jesus.

 

In the gospel, Jesus speaks about his own cross, that he “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed …” Peter wanted Jesus to refuse his cross. “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Peter was an obstacle to the will of God, to what is good and to what is pleasing to God. Therefore, Jesus rebuked him, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.”

 

The encounter between Jesus and Peter reveals to us the pressure we go through in times of our crosses. Jesus teaches us not to refuse or abandon our crosses. He says, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38). We need to be watchful of the pressures that come from our close ones. Peter was very close to Jesus. The most difficult trials and temptations are not from enemies. They are from close ones. Many times, we compromise/conform ourselves due to pressures from close ones against what is good, what is God’s will, and what is pleasing to him. We pray for the grace to resist such pressures.

 

Let us conclude with this story:

 

God, according to his divine plan, gave a man a tall cross to carry and told him, “While on your journey, pray for anything, and I will give you.”  The man set off on his journey. After a few miles, he cried to God, “Lord, my cross is too heavy, please, cut it down a little.” God threw a handsaw to him to cut the cross to the size he wanted. He was delighted and continued his journey. After a few more miles, he cried to God again, “Lord, please cut it down a little more, I will be able to carry it better.” God threw a handsaw to him to cut the cross a little more according to his wish. He was glad. After a few more miles, he got to a gully. The easiest way he would have crossed over the gully would have been to place the cross across the gully to become a bridge. Sadly, the cross was, now, too short to go across the gully.

 

May our crosses become our bridges across the gullies in our life journeys. Amen.

 

The story of Jesus’s cross ends with his resurrection. May the stories of our crosses end with testimonies of victory. Amen. However, we know that there are incomprehensible lifelong crosses. In such conditions, we pray for enduring grace while trusting in God in whose will is our strength and peace. To God be the glory, even in incomprehensible lifelong crosses. Amen.

 

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8; Roman 11:33-36; Matthew 6:16:13-20

 In the first reading, Shebna, the chief steward of King Hezekiah, was a wicked, deceitful, and proud man. It was said that he conspired with Assyria in an attack against Jerusalem. God sent Isaiah to prophesy his removal from office and to be replaced by Eliakim, a faithful and trustworthy servant of God. Isaiah prophesied God’s blessings on Eliakim. He would take over the authority Shebna used to have. “He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the house of Judah. I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot …” The first reading reminds us Mary’s magnificat, “He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly” (Luke 1:51-52).

 

The prophesy about Eliakim was a prophesy about Jesus, “the Christ, the Son of the living God” as Peter professed in today’s gospel. God replaced Shebna (the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers, the scribes, the chief priests, and the old laws) with Jesus the Christ (the new Eliakim), and gave him the authority above all authorities. Jesus, then, passed the authority to Peter and the Catholic Church, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

 

Today’s gospel helps us to understand the origin of the Catholic Church and the papacy. Jesus is the founder, and St. Peter is the first pope. It is only the Catholic Church that has Jesus as her founder. Every other Church traces its founder to a human being. The declaration and prophecy of Jesus in today’s gospel have kept the Catholic Church going for more than two thousand years of her existence, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail over her. From her very beginning, as early as the time of the apostles to our generation, the Church has gone through strong wind and storm, earthquake and fire; yet the Church has continued to survive. Jesus’ declaration and prophecy concerning the Church stand forever; which is to say, no matter what happens, the Catholic Church will remain till the end of time.

 

In many countries and in many places, there are rulers and leaders, like Shebna, who are wicked, deceitful, proud, and corrupt, and who conspire against their own people. We pray for the fulfillment of Mary’s words on such rulers and leaders.

 

Like Shebna, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers, the scribes, the chief priests were equally unfaithful wicked, deceitful, and proud stewards. Jesus challenged them, “they tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:4). I need to ask myself what kind of steward I am. Am I an unfaithful servant like Shebna or am I a faithful and trustworthy servant of God like Eliakim?

 

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67:2-8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

 

The first reading took place when the Israelites returned from the Babylonian captivity and rebuilt the temple of Jerusalem. Through Prophet Isaiah, God commanded the Israelites, “Foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants; all who keep the Sabbath free from profanation; and hold fast to my covenant; them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” By this command, God communicated to the Israelites the universality of salvation and his rejection of the discrimination against the Gentiles.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul, although a Jew, was an apostle to the Gentiles. He states that God’s call to reconciliation and his mercy are for all; Jews and Gentiles. He writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Salvation is not a prerogative of any special group of people, but for all peoples.

 

In the gospel, the Canaanite woman did not mind the enmity between the Canaanites and the Jews or the disparagement of the Canaanites by the Jews. She made her way to see Jesus to present her case. Her daughter was tormented by a demon. Although Jesus tested the faith of the woman, more importantly, he wanted the encounter to be a teaching moment for his disciples and the Jews. Jesus did not say a word when the woman prayed to him. The disciples reacted, “Send her away, for she is calling after us.” Jesus responded, “I was sent only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Jesus reechoed the Jewish belief that the Messiah was going to come to save only the Jews.) “It is not right to take the food for children and throw it to the dogs.” (Jews used the term “dogs” as a slang for Gentiles to signify ritual impurity or a separation from God’s covenant.)

 

Jesus’ response did not discourage the woman. She persisted in her pleading, “Please Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their master.” Jesus was amazed and exclaimed, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour. By attending to the woman, Jesus cancelled the erroneous Jewish belief that the Gentiles were outsiders who were separated from salvation and God’s covenant. By attending to the woman, Jesus implied that the derogatory remark against the Gentiles was nullified and withdrawn.

 

The Canaanite woman has a few lessons to teach us. First is her unwavering faith in Jesus, although she was a non-Jew. She believed that Jesus would heal her daughter. Nothing could discourage her. Second, she persisted in her prayer. She did not stop until her prayer was granted. Third, she was not deterred by what people thought of her or said about her. She remained focused on her goal. Fourth, she displayed great humility.

 

Today’s gospel maintains the theme of the first and second readings, that God is the creator and father of all, and that Jesus came to save everyone. Jesus came to break down dividing walls of enmity between races and destroy hostility of separation (Ephesians 2:14).

 

The disciples said to Jesus, “Send her away, for she is calling out after us.” We hear this same kind of hate speech against fellow human beings: “Send them away, they don’t look like us.” “Send them away. They don’t speak like us.” “Send them away. Their religion is different.” “Send them away. They are taking our jobs.” “Send them away. They don’t belong to our party.” “Send they away. They will overtake us.” “Send them away. They don’t reason like us.” “Send them away. They don’t agree with us.” “Send them away. They don’t support us.” “Send them away …”

 

Is there someone calling after us for help whom we have neglected or dismissed? Is there someone we disrespect or disdain because he or she is different, or because he or she is not one of our own? Is there someone we want to be sent away or be displaced because we are envious or jealous, or we just do not like the person?

 

We pray for a change of heart of perpetrators of the evils of discrimination of others, rejection of others, killing of others, destruction of property, sponsors and implementers of injustice, and enablers of conflicts, violence, and wars. Jesus prays for us and the world that we may be one (John 17:21); one in our homes, in our church, in our communities, in our society, in our country, and in our world.

 

We pray with Pope Leo: “… give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries. In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers: unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ. Amen.” (Jubilee Year Prayer of Pope Leo VIX)