20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Meaning of Catholic Church
Today’s readings of the 20th Sunday in ordinary time touch on the theme of the inclusivity of God’s salvation. God’s salvation is not just for a select group of people; it is available to everyone, even foreigners and outsiders.
In the first reading, from the book of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord proclaims that all nations will have the opportunity to be in a relationship with God. He says, “The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord…keep the Sabbath…[and] hold to my covenant” will be blessed beyond measure.
In the second reading, from his letter to the Romans, St. Paul describes himself as “the apostle to the Gentiles.” Paul was called by God to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ beyond the boundaries of Israel. He preached in polytheistic pagan nations, to people who had never even heard of the one, true God.
In this week’s gospel reading, a Canaanite woman, a foreigner, came to Jesus and begged for help. Her daughter was gravely ill, and she knew that Jesus had the power to heal people. Up until this time, Jesus had focused His efforts on the people of Israel, but this foreign woman had so much trust in the Lord that Jesus granted her what she wished for.
And finally, this same theme is present in the fourth reading, the Responsorial Psalm. (Don’t forget the Psalm, it is also a reading from the Bible.) The response this week, from Psalm 67, is, “O God, let all the nations praise you!” The words of this Psalm are clear that the Lord is not just the God of Israel. He is the God of all creation: “So may [God’s] way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation.”
We as church are called to be a true Catholic church. Do you know the meaning of the word Catholic? It means free from provincial prejudices or attachments, in other words, of the whole; universal. In fact, the Catholic Church was born out of the inclusivist missionary effort of Jesus and early Christian communities. The first disciples and members of our church were all outsiders, marginalized, excluded from society, social outcasts, sinners, Gentiles.
Likewise, we are called to be a church for all people today. We can be a church for all people today by welcoming in our community, the poor, the sinners, the unchurched, even or especially to those who have distanced themselves from the church. Furthermore, to be Catholic church is to be open to other religions and faith and even those with without religion or faith at all through dialogue. After all, we only have one agenda on earth – that of making this world a better place, a just and peaceful world for everyone.
This brings us to the ultimate purpose of our being church. To be church is to be missionary. We are a church not for our own personal salvation; we are a church primarily for the mission—Jesus Mission: The mission of building the Kingdom of God here on earth where all people of every nation, race, colour, gender, culture, belief, religion, politics are one
In God’s eyes there are no ‘dogs’. The food on the Master’s table, the Lord’s Word and his Love and not just the crumbs, is for all without exception. In God’s church, there are no locks, no “members only,” no first or second class, no dress codes, and no dues. Only love.
The Eucharist is a banquet and fellowship that welcomes all especially the sinners and outsiders. In this Eucharist, let us ask the Lord of all to help us do away with all discrimination and with him to make us open to all.
I am passionate about the intersection between new media and technology. I continue to research and apply new media in theology and vice-versa. I am also a fan of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and her continuing relevance in today's digital world.
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