August 20, 2017 20th Sunday Ordinary Time: Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is tormented by a demon.

Gospel – Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
 And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
 My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
 But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
 Jesus’ disciples came and asked him,
 “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
 He said in reply,
 “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
 But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
 He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
 She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
 Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

2610  Just as Jesus prays to the Father and gives thanks before receiving his gifts, so he teaches us filial boldness: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.” Such is the power of prayer and of faith that does not doubt: “all things are possible to him who believes.” Jesus is as saddened by the “lack of faith” of his own neighbors and the “little faith” of his own disciples as he is struck with admiration at the great faith of the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman.

2616  Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection: Jesus hears the prayer of faith, expressed in words (the leper, Jairus, the Canaanite woman, the good thief) or in silence (the bearers of the paralytic, the woman with a hemorrhage who touches his clothes, the tears and ointment of the sinful woman). The urgent request of the blind men, “Have mercy on us, Son of David” or “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” has been renewed in the traditional prayer to Jesus known as the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” Healing infirmities or forgiving sins, Jesus always responds to a prayer offered in faith: “Your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

From “Springs of Mercy” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (SM-109:6-7)

6) Lord, You who from the highest heavens sees the enormity of my ills, and what should be their consequences, only You can free me of them.  You have only to utter a single word to give me perfect health.
7) You went everywhere seeking the sick and you healed their illnesses. You exhaled a virtue which gave health to those who approached You.  Today, you give Your own blood to drink and Your own body to eat in order to heal all the sick of the world, and I think: What other doctor but You would sacrifice His own life to save the life of his patient?

From “Ark of the New Covenant” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (CL-116:1-3) 

1) Today I want you to bring Me a legion of souls redeemed with My blood.  Not the souls who live by My sacramental love, not even great sinners that need to be healed of their terrible wounds, but the other sheep, the souls of the infidels, the poor atheists.   Visit Me on behalf of all of them.
2) They do not know Me and have never heard My voice; nobody had preached My Gospel to them; they have not received My Sacraments.
3) They live enveloped in the darkness of idolatry and paganism, adoring their false gods in whom the evil one lives, and they go on their way to eternal damnation.

Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina.  Pay special attention to the italicized sections. This Sunday it is made clear to us, that neither Satan nor his weeds will win. The Church has already won We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.

Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina.  Pay special attention to the italicized underlined sections. This Sunday it is asked, What kind of soil will you be for the word of God? We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.

Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina.  Pay special attention to the italicized underlined sections. We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.