Pastor's Letter 20230820 - 20 August 2023 - Universalism

[Father Michael]

August 20^th, 2023

20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Christ and the woman of Canaan” by Annibale Corracci 1595

A Message from Father ^†Michael

Today’s Theme:  “Universalism”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

(Isaiah 56:1-7)  God’s house is open to all those who worship with sincerity  

Written during a time of repatriation (ca.515 B.C.,) Isaiah stressed that universal compassion, righteousness and justice were to become imperatives for the people.  

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(Romans 11:13-32)  ^†Paul tells us God never takes back His gifts.  Those who return to Him are sure of obtaining mercy.  

^†Paul regarded himself as the human instrument of Israel’s conversion to “The Way of Jesus Christ,” through his preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles.  He exhorted them not to bask in pride or harbor ill will against the Israelites.  Because of God’s mercy and unending love, Israel can also share in the life-saving news of the Gospel and participate in the reconciliation accomplished by Jesus for all of humankind.

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(Matthew 15:21-28)  The secret of missionary activity is an unquantifiable reality:  Faith cannot be predicted, measured or limited by human statistics.

The Canaanite woman was a pagan from the region of Tyre and Sidon (modern-day southern Lebanon.)  Without the law and the prophets to guide her, she nonetheless called upon Jesus by the Messianic title “Son of David,” and, in doing so, she became a living example of faith.  That faith signaled the end of the old era of The Law, and the inauguration of the new era of the Kingdom of the Faithful.  

All Are Welcome

There are no reserved places at the banquet of the Kingdom.  We must try to do our best to live righteously, but we cannot count on anything we may do, except the mercy and goodness of God.

The Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel had to face many obstacles in order to obtain a cure for her daughter:  She had to overcome pride in order to beg (as a Gentile, she knew she wasn’t welcome among Jews;) she had to overcome the apparent indifference of Jesus; and then a rejection by His disciples.  

But she was not discouraged, because she wasn’t seeking something for herself.  Unselfishness enables us to withstand almost anything, empowering us to “transcend” ourselves.  Most mothers and fathers would do likewise, (as many have,) with no guarantee of a happy outcome.  As such, the Canaanite woman is held up to us as an example of faith, courage and love.

This story is a testimony to God’s love for all people, in all nations, and has brought hope and comfort to hurting souls in every age of the Church.  

Some people may wonder: “Is there any hope for me, a sinner?  …For my son’s incurable disease?  …For my sister, who has fallen away from the Church?  …For my co-worker, who has never been baptized and did not have a religious upbringing?  …For everyone who has been traumatized by abuse and neglect?  

The answer is found in Scripture, over and over again.  “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7.)  No one is excluded.  Unlike some denominations, the position of the Old Catholic Church has always been to welcome everyone to partake of the Holy Sacraments, regardless of their past, their political or social views or their proclivities.  

God’s power and His desire to bless us are not limited only to “chosen people.”  All His promises are still available to us, today.  We can enter into the healing presence of Jesus as we praise and worship God, imitating the Canaanite woman’s adoration.  Just as she experienced the Father’s love to deliver His people from the enemy, so too, can we.  

There is another message here, that may have been overlooked.  There is much to be gained through perseverance.  

Every salesperson knows to expect resistance, and even rejection, from a customer.  That is simply human nature.  We are reticent to accept ideas at first hearing, irrespective of the source.  But as we encounter them repeatedly, they begin to resonate with us.  Understanding a customer’s objections, and offering a conscientious presentation of goods or services that are beneficial for them can enable acceptance, with persistence.  (Many times, a person’s negative response stems from all the misinformation that is presented in today’s mass media.  Thoughts and opinions that would have been considered “unconscionable,” in the recent past, have proliferated today, due to constant repetition, to the extent that they are accepted as “truth” by many people.)  

But if we are tenacious in our beliefs, and they are in keeping with faith and morality, our ideas can find acceptance, in spite of initial rejection.  This was the manner of the Canaanite woman.  She was certain that Jesus possessed the ability to affect the health of her daughter, and no amount of dismissal was too much to bear.  

We are called to be patient with those who reject our ideas, especially those regarding faith and morals.  Outside influences are powerful, and it is imperative that we understand them, thoroughly.  Consistent, gentle persuasion is one of the most powerful forces at work in the world.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can effectively minister to our family, friends and neighbors, firm in the belief that eternal salvation is the prize awaiting each of us.  

May God Richly Bless You!

Communion Invitation, A.docx

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Edited August 20, 2023 by Father Michael