Good News Inspiration for Daily Life
Bulletin Insert for August 16, 2020.
Description: Reflection for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time uses the Gospel reading, Matthew 15:21-28, to challenge readers to examine their tendency to judge others. The Canaanite woman had two prejudicial strikes against her: gender and nationality. Of course, Jesus was there as Savior for the whole world, but the disciples didn’t know it yet. To stretch their minds (and ours), Jesus waited for the Canaanite woman’s faith to become so obvious that it would overshadow every limitation that had been imposed upon her.
For Jesus, the only outsider is someone who refuses to come into the kingdom of God. But we don’t readily think like this. Our Church is full of people who have been misjudged. Many feel outcast. We easily jump to wrong conclusions about each other.
Ideas for use: Bulletin insert for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Confirmation class, diversity training, racial prejudice workshop, adult faith formation, SCCs, youth group, RCIA, etc.
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