This Sunday's Gospel reading from St. Matthew's Gospel shows the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy that those from outside of Israel would come to the Lord's holy mountain. In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies that foreigners will offer burnt offerings and sacrifice at the altar in the Lord's house of prayer. In the Gospel reading, the Canaanite woman's faith compels her to persist in her request for our Lord to heal her daughter despite our Lord's replies that test her faith. Each time, in response to Jesus, she replies with humility and tremendous faith. After testing her faith, our Lord heals her daughter and remarks upon her great faith. As St. Paul explains in the second reading from Romans, the Lord desires that all receive His mercy. The Lord's plan from all eternity was that all may be one with the Lord. This is demonstrated in the call to Abraham who was called to be the father of many nations. In Christ, salvation comes from the Jews, but it is offered to all people. Today we see the further fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy when in the Church at mass, all peoples from many nations come to the Lord's house of prayer in order to offer of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Readings:

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
Matthew 15:21-28

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• A Foreigner's Faith (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology