Avoid looking badly on others who are different to you.
20th Sunday of the Year (A)
Isaiah 56: 1,6-7; Psalm 66; Rom. 11: 13-15, 29-32; Mt. 15: 21-28
Read: Healing and feeding are two things that seem to go together. Jesus does both these things, and those who have faith can see the meaning of his actions. Others do not see the meaning of this.
Pray: Avoid looking badly on others who are different to you. Pray that you do so, especially when you are tempted to be prejudiced against a group of people or an individual.
Reflect: “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house dogs”. Do you not think that what Jesus said to the Canaanite woman does not reflect his own character but that of the people of Israel at that particular time? According to the mentality of the people of Israel, the common thinking was that humankind was split into two blocks: those that recognised the true God and so were the chosen people of God (Israel), and all the others who did not recognise Him (the pagans or the other races). Many times, this division between the two blocks resulted in the Jews thinking that salvation was reserved for them alone and that, to achieve this, it was enough for them to be members of the People of Israel. Does this story reflect the relationship between the Jews who became Christians, and the pagans who became Christians within the community of the Evangelist St. Matthew?
Act: Do not tolerate those different to yourself, but accept them and recognise their talents. Given the occasion, celebrate life with those persons who are different to you.