Weekly Readings

Readings and Celebrations

for the week of August 17, 2008

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 56: 1, 6-7; Rom 11: 13-15, 29-32; Mt 15: 21-28

First Reading:  Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

The Lord wants all people to love and honor his name.  He says that those who honor him by obeying all of his laws will be “made joyful in my house of prayer.”

Second Reading:  Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

Paul describes his hopes that his fellow Jews will follow the example of the Gentiles he has been preaching to.  He claims that just as God has mercy for their disobedience, he wishes to show mercy to the Jews as well.

Gospel:  Matthew 15:21-28

A Canaanite woman begged Jesus to help her daughter, who was being plagued by a demon. Jesus at first refused her and said that “My mission is only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  The woman was so persistent that Jesus said she had great faith and then he healed her daughter.

Monday

Ez 24: 15-24; Mt 19: 16-22

Tuesday

Ez 28: 1-10; Mt 19: 23-30

Wednesday

Ez 34: 1-11; Mt 20: 1-16

Thursday

Ez 36: 23-28; Mt 22: 1-14

Friday

Ez 37: 1-14; Mt 22: 34-40

Saturday

Ez 43: 1-7; Mt 23: 1-12