Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time [A]

Readings
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
Matthew 15:21-28

Calendar
August 15: Feast of the Assumption of Mary
August 23: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (For info go to: http://www.unesco.org/culture/dialogue/slave/html_eng/day.shtml )

Quotes
"Women are equally created in the image and likeness of God, equally redeemed by Christ, equally sanctified by the Holy Spirit; women are equally involved in the ongoing tragedy of sin and the mystery of grace, equally called to mission in this world, equally destined for life with God in glory."
Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ, She Who Is, p. 8

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of freedom and a force for liberation. In recent years, this essential truth has become the object of reflection for theologians, with a new kind of attention which is itself full of promise."
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Instruction on Certain Aspects of the "Theology of Liberation"

"This is the mystery of our Church, that all men and women are brothers and sisters, all one in Christ, all bear the image of the Eternal God."
U.S. Catholic Bishops

"Every perspective on economic life that is human, moral, and Christian must be shaped by three questions: What does the economy do for people? What does it do to people? And how do people participate in it? The economy is a human reality: men and women working together to develop and care for the whole of God's creation. All this work must service the material and spiritual wellbeing of people."
U.S. Bishops, Economic Justice for All, #1

"The one gift of salvation coming from God through Jesus-Sophia in the Spirit upends power relationships, transforming all teachers, fathers, masters, great ones into servants of the little ones."
Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ, She Who Is, p. 82

Thoughts for Your Consideration
In today's gospel, the Canaanite woman dares to approach Jesus. She is a woman and a gentile. She has a sick daughter. By the custom and practice of the time, she should not dare to approach Jesus. Culturally, she has no right to expect to share in the ministry of Jesus. She should "remain invisible and say nothing."

On one level, the Canaanite woman is like many people in our world today. She is like all the women who are denied an equal place at the table. She represents those who are struggling to care for others (children, family, parents, etc) and do not have the means to do so as they would like. She is like all parents who cannot get good health care for their children. She represents those who are left out because of their national or ethnic background. She reminds us of those of us who are intimidated by religious, political, or economic authority.

On another level, the Canaanite woman reminds us of those who take the courage to speak up despite all the cultural messages to keep quiet and just accept their suffering. She models a woman who is willing to speak up to authority. She represents those who keep on speaking out for justice and basic human rights. She represents those who do not give up.

It seems as if in some way Jesus is moved by this amazing encounter. He praises her faith. Her daughter is cured. The experience of Jesus seems to point to the possibility of conversion and the possibility of help coming to those who are in need.

This story reminds us that the Gospel inspires those who have the freedom and courage to speak up and take action for their rights. The Gospel is about liberation and transformation. The woman speaks up. Her daughter is healed. Both she and Jesus are changed. The prophecy of Isaiah comes true. On God's mountain there is a gathering of folks from all the many nations who enjoy justice and peace.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group
Who do you know who is as persistent at the Canaanite woman?
How does such persistence affect you? Are you in any way changed?
Can you be so persistent in speaking up for your rights or the rights of those in need?

Actions - Links

• On December 18, 1979, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). For info and to advocate on this treaty go to http://www.womenstreaty.org/

• Later this month, on August 26, we celebrate Women's Equality Day, which was designated in 1971 by the US Congress. The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world's first women's rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women's continuing efforts toward full equality. For more info visit http://www.nwhp.org/ and specifically
• http://www.nwhp.org/events/equality-day/history-of-equality-day.html

• The Justice for Immigrants Campaign provides tools and information for organizing, education, and advocacy efforts to assist immigrants. Catholic teachings underpin this campaign. Proposals are offered from the Catholic Bishops to achieve reforms in our nation's immigration laws and policies that better reflect our values as a nation of immigrants. Go to: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/

Prayer í¢â‚¬" Meditation

Living God, we pray for all people:

í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those women shut off from a full life by tradition and practice.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those people who are oppressed and exploited.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those denied their freedom and dignity by systems and authorities.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those forced to leave their homelands because of their ideologies.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those seeking answers and meaning to their lives within their own cultures and religions.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those who labor too long and too hard only to barely feed and clothe themselves and their families.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those forced to sell their bodies to survive.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For those women and men who live lives of quiet desperation at the hands of the powerful and prestigious.
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ For these and all who suffer.

We pray, asking that the Church may once again give joyful expression to your creative love:

í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ Which breaks down barriers and unites person to person, woman to man, and community to community,
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ Which gives meaning and hope to empty lives and makes us reach out to each other in generous self-giving,
í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ í‚ Which makes us more complete ourselves.

So God, fulfill your promise in us for the sake of all human beings through Jesus Christ.

The prayer below is edited from St. Mary's College Ipswich at http://www.smc.qld.edu.au/prayers3.htm