THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF GOD

SUNDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Isa 55:1,6-7; Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8; Rom 11:13-15,29-32; Mt 15:21-28

A House of Prayer for All Peoples

We touched on the deep compassion of Saint Paul for his people, the Jews, in last Sunday's reflection. We noted that such self-sacrificing compassion demonstrates a deep transformation of Paul into Jesus Christ. His willingness and eagerness to be cut off or deny his heavenly inheritance in Jesus Christ for the sake of the salvation of his people, the Jewish people, shows the presence of the heart and mind of Jesus Christ in him. For as Saint Paul wrote in Phil 2:5, urging us to let the same mind that was in Christ Jesus be within us; who, being in the form of God, abandoned his Godhead to become a slave for the sake of his brothers and sisters, even to accept death on the cross. Jesus Christ accepted to be cursed to liberate us from our slavery to sin and evil and restore us to the kingdom of his Father in heaven. Hence, in offering to be cut off from Jesus Christ and the heavenly blessings we have inherited in him, Saint Paul was revealing the depth of his transformation into Jesus Christ. We grow in this self-offering as we meditate and contemplate the life, passion, and death of our Lord Jesus Christ as revelation of God’s infinite mercy and love for us.

Understanding that his own offering cannot save his people or anyone, he reasoned that God’s infinite mercy and compassion, which are generally available to everyone for salvation, are not lacking in any way to the Jewish people. He thereby understood that his eager self-offering is only an instance and a manifestation of the divine mercy and compassion. He therefore turned to us to admonish us on what he had understood about God’s divine mercy and how it applies to his calls and choices. “Let me tell you, pagans this: I have been sent to the pagans as their apostles, and I am proud of being sent, but the purpose of it is to make my own people envious of you, and in this way save some of them.” Paul felt a holy jealousy for the Gentile converts here. His deep insight into the spiritual wealth we have received in Jesus Christ drove him to bewail the loss of his own Jewish people, who received the promise of spiritual wealth, but failed to believe in Jesus Christ. He continued: “Since their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, do you know what their admission will mean? Nothing less than a resurrection from the dead! God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.” He returned to the infinite mercy and compassion of God, which offers us gifts beyond our imagination when we believe and receive his Son, Jesus Christ.  

The Church, in giving us these readings, is not oblivious of the fact that the spiritual wealth we have received in Jesus Christ is originally and always meant for all men. God created man for his own purpose and glory, and promised him eternal life. The devil’s envy turned man away from the path to the eternal glory God promised him. Hence, the choice of Abraham and his children was to mediate the coming back of all nations and peoples. This is among the promises God made to Abraham when he said that all nations will bless themselves through Abraham. Israel was chosen to mediate God’s blessings to all peoples and nations. Abraham’s faith in God became a prototype for all the people to share in the communion with God. The prophecy of Isaiah relates to this. “Foreigners who have attached themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love his name and be his servants—all who observe the sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

God does not segregate in his house of prayer; he listens equally to all who pray with faith and humility. This house of prayer is no other than the Son of Man. In him, neither circumcision nor lack of circumcision counts; being a Jew or Gentile means nothing; what is of importance is faith in his name. Cf. Gal. 5:6, 6:15. The Son of David, who is also the Son of God, built the House of prayer and admits anyone with faith. God has promised to hear our prayers and receive our sacrifices—holocausts and oblations—irrespective of our race, tribe, or nationality. The Gospel demonstrates this for us, narrating how the Canaanite woman received her request from the Lord through her faith. “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.” Our Lord rightly says that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, which implies all those who truly believe in God and desire the knowledge of his will to come home from their wandering. When the woman demonstrated her faith, she was received back to the Father’s house. “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.’” I bet you that what the woman received was no scraps, but a well-garnished meal from the master because of her faith. “Let the people praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.”

Let us pray: O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.