20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
No Children's Liturgy today as Cathy is away with her family on vacation!
In our reading, God tells us to treat everyone with fairness no matter what colour, race, or how rich or poor someone is. All people are invited to follow in God’s ways and all will receive the reward of heaven when they do.
In our gospel, a woman from Canaan (not a Jewish person) came to Jesus and asked him to help her daughter who had an evil spirit in her. The disciples became upset because she was following them and she kept asking for help. Jesus told them that he came to help the people. The woman came to him again and knelt in front of him asking for help. Jesus finally helped and the daughter became well again. At that time, many felt that only Jews could be saved and that God would only help those who were Jewish so this woman from Canaan really bothered the disciples. Jesus did not reject the woman. He tested her to make sure she had faith and then he helped her. Our relationship with Jesus is based on faith alone -not race, nationality, religion or how rich or poor we are. We are also called to accept all people.