Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

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

It was a glorious Sunday morning!  The sun filtered through the front window into the living room.  And as a beacon lights up the sky, the sunbeams lit up four big letters hung on the living room wall.  The four letters were:

“That says pray,” Lucy said, looking at the sign.  “But I bet that isn’t all it stands for!”

“Right you are, Lucy!” Mom answered.  “Today, we are going to hear the story of the Canaanite woman who recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  What she did is a great lesson for us all!”

Everyone gathered in the sun-drenched living room as Dad read from Matthew, Chapter 15.  It tells of the Canaanite woman’s prayer and persistence in reaching out to Jesus.  When Dad finished reading, he looked over at Vincent.  Dad knew that he had a question on his mind.

“I don’t understand why Jesus didn’t help this woman right away!” Vincent reasoned.  “It seems to me that He dismissed her a couple of times!”

“You’re right, Vincent.” Dad replied.  “Jesus doesn’t seem to answer the woman on her first, her second, or even her third try.  But by doing this, Jesus is actually strengthening the woman’s faith.”

“How’s that?” Mary Clare asked.

“Well, you see, the Canaanite woman keeps on, and on, and on,” Dad answered.  “She doesn’t give up making her request of Jesus.  She is not stopped by the obstacles.  She keeps asking and asking.”

“And this is a great lesson for all of us,” Mom said.  “We don’t always get our prayers answered the first, or second, or the third time we ask the Lord.  Sometimes we lose heart.  But we are to persevere!”

“Even when it seems hopeless?” Mary Clare wondered.“

Absolutely!” Dad said.  “Did you hear what Jesus says to the woman?  He praises her when He says, ‘Great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish. ”  (Matthew 15:28a)

“And that brings us to our letters this morning!” Mom exclaimed.  “Our first card is the letter ‘P.’  That stands for PERSISTENCE!”

“That’s right, Therese!” Dad said.  “We must be persistent in our prayers to Jesus.  Keep going, keep going, keep going!”

Mom continued, “The second letter is ‘R.’  That stands for REQUEST.”

“Request what you want from Jesus when you pray,” Dad said.  “Make a request in all humility.  Ask for God’s merciful ear.”

“The next letter is ‘A,’ “ Mom went on.

“That stands for ADORE,” Dad said.  “The Canaanite woman recognized Jesus as the true Messiah.  She adored and praised Him and knew in all faith that He could help her.”

“And the last letter on our board is ‘Y,’ “ Mom finished.

“The ‘Y’ stands for YIELD,” Dad stated.  “God provides a bountiful yield, and prayer is always fruitful!  God does hear us and will answer us.”

The Pauline kids looked at the letters.  They all knew what they had to do: keep praying, keep asking, and keep hope in their hearts.

Dad then said, “We want to hear Jesus say to each of us, ‘Great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish.’ “ (Matthew 15:28a)

“So, before we end this morning,” Mom said.  “I want to offer this little prayer … “

Joining hands all around, Mrs. Pauline led the family with this offering:

God of love,
our strength and protection,
we love You, and we praise You.
Hear the prayers of Your people.
Grant that when we come to You in faith,
our prayers may be answered.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

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Cycle A, 20 OT, SSSDownload

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