August 16th, 2026

 

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

-Matthew 15:21-28 homily notes: 

 

Tyre and Sidon were pagan cities located in today’s (Lebanon) / In Jesus’ time this area was outside the concern of King Herod and Israel / Perhaps Jesus was there to concentrate on forming His Apostles and Church / Thus, He wouldn’t be interrupted by Herod and the Jewish authorities.

 

 -This Gospel story bothers people. We might ask: Why did Jesus react this way to a simple Canaanite woman asking for help?

 

-Jesus first doesn’t respond / Then the dog comments.

-She has a great comeback / “For even the dogs eat the scraps…”

-What do we make of this?

 

-Don’t read as if Jesus was tired, had a long day, was short, or just showing his humanity / Jesus is God / He will have a reason for what He is doing.

 

-Jesus knows her heart / He knows exactly how to fully bring about her faith and mighty Graces under trial.

 

-Read as a relationship of Israel to the other nations / A Central Biblical theme.

 

-God chose to form Israel / Set them apart from the beginning. 

-To form a Holy People to bring all the world into union with Him.

 

-This unlocks the Bible / This is the vocation of Israel / They bring God to the nations / Isaiah: To the mountain where all people will come and Worship / Malachi’s vision of the perfect Sacrifice offered from Gentile Altars around the world (Which is our Catholic Mass).

 

-By setting Israel apart (Covenant, Law, and Worship): God shows them what things and actions are Sacred and Profane / This Defines them / Gives them an Identity / People will see they are not like the world.

 

The Covenant and Law are Like a Wall to protect them / And then they become a bridge to all nations / Romans: Paul has no ministry to the Gentiles (us) without Israel / God used their disobedience to bring salvation to all people.

 

Back to the story:

-Jesus says: I have come for Israel /And Jesus will be their fulfillment through His Church.

 

-The Woman represents the Nations / I want what you offer / IN HUMILITY / SHE IS NOT AFRAID TO APPROACH GOD / TO ASK: “LORD HELP ME.”

 

-Through Israel God’s Grace and life is offered to all the Gentile nations.

-How beautiful is her strength, faith and perseverance in adversity.

-Through adversity the Canaanite Woman stayed the course.

 

-When we are defined by our faith and God / Have walls to protect us from the vices and sins that separates us / then We have something of substance to live by / only then can we be the bridge to our own families and nations / This is also the Church / The New Israel / As we are in the world, we are not defined by the world / We become a bridge to raise up a world from darkness back to the light and truth of Jesus Christ.

 

-Going back to adversity / When we have the faith, Persistence, Fortitude and Perseverance / We will be patient when we hit a wall / When we are being stretched we will ultimately experience the greater good God has planned for us.

 

-Remember: Covenant & Law Is The wall that defines us and protects us.

-Jesus is simply waiting for us to say: “LORD HELP ME.”

 

-There are so many stories in the Bible where God’s people through (persistence and not giving up) Experience amazing things / Life from the ashes / From crosses to Glory / Abraham, Isaac, Joseph in Egypt, Job

 

-Mary at the foot of the cross / Was assumed into Heaven to see her son IN HIS GLORY AT THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS FATHER.

 

-The Canaanite woman teaches us about faith and how to pray?

(St. John Vianney - Sermon on Prayer).

 

“The Gospels refer to the fact that she was a pagan / Which makes her faith in Jesus so remarkable / Her faith leads her to be persistent and daring / She makes her request even though the time doesn’t seem right (v23) / She persist even though she is deemed unworthy (v24-26) / She perseveres despite the obstacles (v27) / In the end she gets what she desires (v28) / We find that sometimes our Lord does not grant us what we ask for immediately / He delays meeting our request so our desire might increase / And we better appreciate the value of what we ask for / I will add that we are now prepared to receive what we ask for / It is not a refusal but a test that prepares us to receive more abundantly what we desire.”

 

-Let us thank the Lord for bringing us into His family through His Church / Perfect Worship / And to know He will always answer our prayers when we pray like this woman who was given the gift of the Church and Salvation.

 

If we have the faith of this Canaanite Woman / THIS IS OUR FUTURE.

 

Vivat Jesus

Father Vic Gournas