God’s Mercy saves us all

 

We all have past that made us unfit for salvation.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A, August 20th, 2023 Texts: Isaiah 56:1.6-7; Psalm 66:2-3,5-6,8; Romans 11:13-15.29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 

Today’s message is about the dependency of our salvation on God’s mercy. God’s mercy saves us all, both the Jews and the Gentiles. While the Gentiles have no qualifications for salvation, the Jews have lost the right to promise of salvation. Apostle Paul enlightens us thus: “For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their (Jews) disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy.” 

We see in the words of apostle Paul that disobedience is the bane of salvation. Disobedience to God deprives us the right to God’s promise of salvation. Today’s reading speaks of God’s promise of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. We read, “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. ‘And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ... these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer”.  

We all have past that made us unfit for salvation

We have been disobedient at one point or the other and lost the right to the promise of salvation. Hence, Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The lost sheep are those who had lost the right to salvation by their disobedience. Jesus’ response to the Canaanite woman is to all the Gentiles. He says, “It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." They were not also fit for salvation because of their disobedience. Apostle Paul says, “For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.” 

We all have past that made us unfit for salvation. God showed us mercy and brought us back to the right path for salvation. God showed us mercy by helping us when we are helpless and in need of help. We see this in the life of Canaanite woman. We read, “Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” Here the prerequisite for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. Both Jews and Gentiles need to accept Jesus Christ for their salvation.  

Jesus Christ is our justice, righteousness, and salvation  

Prophet Isaiah, in the first reading, reveals that  justice and righteousness are the ways to salvation. This means to minister to the Lord, to love His name, to be His servants, to keep the Sabbath holy and to hold fast His covenant. Jesus Christ is our justice, righteousness, and salvation  

We discover in Jesus Christ the mercy of God which returns us to path of salvation. Apart from our personal sin, we have all sinned in our first parents, Adam and Eve. In the words of the psalm: “Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me” (51:5). We have lost claim to salvation through our first parents; human race needs God’s mercy to be saved. This is a call to seek God’s mercy. Having received mercy we are to give mercy. We are to be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.  

Prayer 

O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke