”I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you.” The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards His flock. Promises then encourage us in today’s readings.
But how are we constant in our love and affection for Him? Or for one another for that matter? What if our love is put to the test like in today’s Gospel? How would we react? Would we stomp off at perceived disrespect? Or will we see the kindness and mercy in our Lord’s eyes? Would we then endeavour for the well being of our loved one and the faith we must have! Will we go on to be the living expression of God’s mercy and love to others?
Abba, heavenly Father, let me be known as Your child of great faith. Let me be an instrument of Your mercy and love. Amen
Saints Sixtus II, Pope, and his Companions, Saint Cajetan, pray for us…
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First reading
Jeremiah 31:1-7 ·
You shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel
I will be the God of all the clans of Israel – it is the Lord who speaks – they shall be my people.
The Lord says this:
They have found pardon in the wilderness, those who have survived the sword.
Israel is marching to his rest.
The Lord has appeared to him from afar:
I have loved you with an everlasting love,
so I am constant in my affection for you.
I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel.
Adorned once more, and with your tambourine, you will go out dancing gaily.
You will plant vineyards once more on the mountains of Samaria (the planters have done their planting: they will gather the fruit).
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen shout on the mountains of Ephraim,
‘Up! Let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God!’
For the Lord says this:
Shout with joy for Jacob!
Hail the chief of nations!
Proclaim! Praise! Shout:
‘The Lord has saved his people,
the remnant of Israel!’
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Gospel
Matthew 15:21-28
The Canaanite woman debates with Jesus and saves her daughter
Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.
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