August 16, 2026
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

Today is the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel passage from Saint Matthew presents Jesus’ dialogue with a Canaanite woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon. I would like to offer some reflections on this text.

First, Matthew tells us that Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon (cf. Matt 15:21). He clearly enters a Gentile territory, among people living outside the covenant. As I write these reflections, I am reminded of the present state of our Church. Today, the Church coexists with a secularized society. By “secularized society,” I mean a world that views all things not according to the worldview, values, and anthropology that Jesus came to establish for this passing world, but according to the mindset of this world which is passing away. Similarly, within our own Church, we often encounter “secularized” thinking. Such thinking within the Church seeks to handle various internal affairs according to the principles of the “children of this world,” rather than according to the Gospel. This mindset often undermines ecclesial communion and sows the seeds of schism within the Church which Christ founded upon the Apostle Peter.

Next, Matthew presents a woman crying out after Jesus: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon” (cf. Matt 15:22). Mark, describing this woman, identifies her as a Greek, of Syro-Phoenician origin (cf. Mark 7:26). Neither Evangelist tells us how she came to know of Jesus. Perhaps she heard of His power to heal diseases and cast out demons from the people of Capernaum—His center for ministry—knowing that Capernaum was a semi-Gentile region.

Furthermore, Matthew tells us that Jesus initially did not respond to her plea, and even the disciples urged Him to send her away (cf. Matt 15:23-24). In some parishes where I have served, I have often seen sacristans or altar servers preventing the faithful—especially those who have been absent from Mass for a long time—from approaching the priest for Confession, arguing that the priest is too busy. A similar scene unfolds in our own prayer: we cry out to God with longing, and He seems not to answer. In such moments, like those turned away, we grow discouraged, thinking God no longer loves us, that He is withdrawing His Spirit and handing us over to death. Yet, this is precisely an opportunity to exercise our faith. For God permits us to endure a measure of suffering and trial so that we might be justified by faith.

Finally, Matthew recounts the dialogue between the woman and Jesus (cf. Matt 15:25-28). Here we see the image of the Church as a tender Mother. When Mother Church sees her children bound by the devil and the powers of the netherworld, she acts like a loving mother, interceding for her children trapped in sin. In this maternal intercession and in the Canaanite woman, we observe five virtuous dispositions: (1) Humility: “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” (2) Patience: She patiently bore what seemed to be the Savior’s rebuke. (3) Supplication: “Lord, have mercy on me.” (4) Perseverance: She persisted in prayer until she received what she desired. (5) Faith: “O woman, great is your faith!” (cf. Matt 15:28). If we possess these five virtues, we shall be freed from every demonic influence and delivered from all sin. May the Lord grant us this grace. (cf. Sermo IV: Anima peccati, St. Thomas Aquinas).

Today, the daughter of this Syro-Phoenician woman was healed by her mother’s faith. Likewise, let us, with unwavering trust in the Divine Word, bring before Jesus those who await His mercy. May He recognize in our prayers for them the faith we have in Him, the charity we bear for our neighbor, and the hope we place in His abundant compassion. According to His mercy, may He free those for whom we intercede—those we bring before Him—from the bonds of sin and death, restoring them to the freedom of the children of God.

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.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica