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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading I: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 “I believe in the Catholic i.e. Universal Church”
The theme that runs through all the readings is one of Inclusiveness. All are invited to the Banquet Table which is a sign and symbol of Heaven. And in this year dedicated to the Eucharist, it should make us more open to all who are invited to the Table of the Lord.
Our first reading is taken from what Scholars call “Third Isaiah.” The people of God, the Israelites have returned from captivity. The temple - “the house of prayer” is now rebuilt. But during the captivity instead of having a ghetto mentality, the Israelites mixed about with their Captors. They had adopted some of their customs, married some of men and women, and although they kept most of the rules and Jewish regulations - there had been some “contamination” in the worship, rituals and even names they applied to God. To meet this ‘de facto’ reality the Prophet Isaiah preaches an inclusiveness. The promises and the covenant are extended to the stranger, to the foreigner provided they keep the covenant they keep the Sabbath they keep the Lord’s name holy. Then the Promise of the Lord and the House of the Lord will be open to all. “I believe in the Catholic ie. UniversalChurch”
The theme of largesse and generosity is picked up by Paul. A few Sundays ago, he said that nothing could separate us from the Love of Christ: not famine, nor hunger, not distress, not persecution. Because of this (we heard last Sunday,) Paul assures the Israelites that they had received the glory, their adoption as children of God, the promise, the covenant, and even the Messiah. This would not be taken away from them because the Gifts of God have a “no refund, no exchange, no return policy” - they are always there for the People of God. This is heartening news. Hardened hearts, disobedience and even a rejection of God’s love will not alter God’s plan or God’s generosity. These gifts are given first to the Jews. However, the chosen people began to get presumptuous and sloppy about these gifts. If Yahweh always keeps the promises made to them. “Why worry, be happy”. Paul now tries to stir up some jealousy among the Israelites. Salvation is extended to the Gentiles. These gifts of God are still available because of God’s mercy and God’s desire to save all. This desire is for all times and for all people. “I believe in the Catholic i.e. UniversalChurch”
Jesus takes up this Inclusiveness to another level. He kicks it up another notch. He almost humiliates the Gentile woman to bring out her faith in stark contrast. The woman, like any mother with a sick child, rises to the occasion. “You can call me a dog but even dogs have a right to the scraps from the master’s table...” The table is the symbol for heaven, - so is this a sign that “dogs” go to heaven? The circumstances are extraordinary: - an outsider, a Canaanite (therefore a sinner) in Jewish thinking and a woman on top of it all. How would we react if a non-Catholic woman walked up at Communion and asked for the Eucharist because she believed in Christ. The disciples tried to shoo her away - they tried to build an “altar rail” between the woman and Christ. We still try to do that 2000 years later.
If as Catholics we like things clean and neat, carefully packaged and know the boundaries, the readings today are going to be very, very uncomfortable. The Love and Generosity of God knows no boundaries. No voices, especially no female voices are unworthy of being heard. We all have the “ear” of God. “I believe in the Catholic i.e. UniversalChurch”
And so in this Year of the Eucharist, it challenges us to look more closely at the food of the heavenly Table. It should be available to all. If there are any favourites or any one more deserving of the Eucharist, it is the sinner rather than the saint. I came said Jesus for the sick and not for those who have no need of the physician. The reality is that the Eucharist is not available in so many parishes today. This is not only because there are fewer priests. But that is not the only issue. How many parishes prevent people from going to the Table of the Lord, because we as priests deem them not “worthy” to come and receive Communion. We have so many rules and regulations. Rules and Regulations are good and helpful for the smooth running of the Church, but we have to beware that we do not turn out to be like the Scribes and Pharisees of old who heaped up more burdens on the heads of the people, and did not lift a finger to help them. (Matthew 23:4) Paul has rightly said, let us not approach the Table of the Lord unworthily lest it become for us a source of condemnation and not a source of salvation. But it would be to our own salvation if we erred in the matter of kindness and compassion rather than drive people away from the Eucharistic Table. “I believe in the Catholic ie. UniversalChurch”
The Eucharist is constantly being denied to those who most need the graces of the Lord’s Body and Blood. From our regular parish life at least 20 different scenarios could be painted, but I will share only a few for your reflection. 1. Carol and Peter are there with their two teenage daughters. The eldest is having “boy problems”. Peter remains in the turbulent marriage only for the sake of the children. He has been involved in corrupt business practices. Neither have the habit of going to confession, - and the teenagers haven’t been since their first communion. All four go for communion as a routine. 2. Edgar is a gay senior, who comes regularly to church with his partner. He strongly believes of the connection between confession and communion. He went to confesion once and was given the third degree. He never communicates now. 3. Maria is in a happy second marriage. Her first was when she was 18, the boy left her as a single mother, two years into the marriage. She cannot afford an annulment because the diocese demands a $800 down payment. But she was treated roughly by an elderly spinister at the Chancery Office and has no desire whatsoever to undergo the same humiliation. She does not go up for Communion. 4. Nathan is a Tamilian who comes alone for Mass. He cannot find a priest to confess in tamil and so he never goes up for Communion.
But these are big cases, how many of us would still like things neat, clean tightly packaged and clearly defined in our churches. We want a priest who wears his clerical collar, people who do not chew gum, altar servers with more reverence, people who will be silent in church and genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament. If these things get us hot under the collar, we are a far way from having the inclusiveness that Isaiah, Paul and Jesus are proposing in our Sunday’s Word of the Lord. “I believe in the Catholic ie. UniversalChurch” |
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