August 16 th, 2026 (20 th Sunday Ordinary A)

Dear brothers and sisters,

We see in the readings of today how foreigners receive Jesus Christ and believe in him. The word of God is rejected by the Jews the ones who had received all the promises supposedly the ones who were close to God. Now instead the Gospel is welcomed by the gentiles, those who were considered far away from God and transgressors of the law. The pagans like this Canaanite woman of the Gospel welcome full of faith in Jesus Christ. It is interesting to see how Jesus finds “faith” in this Canaanite woman who is begging Jesus to cure her daughter who is possessed by a demon. Jesus Christ does not find this same faith in his native town of Nazareth or the cities where he performed most of his miracles like Chorazin and Bethsaida. Many times, we too because we pray all the time or feel close to God may have the feeling of being “entitled” even with the things of God. But it is not so. This Canaanite woman knows that she does not deserve anything yet she hopes and prays to God. We cannot put demands on God and on Jesus Christ like the Jews did. Let us ask for the humility of this woman. This woman knew she was a sinner and she approached Christ with this humility and her request was granted. Let us not approach God or Jesus Christ with a prideful heart demanding things from God as he was our personal secretary. The truth of this Gospel and of our life is this humility. To know that we do not deserve anything that everything good that comes to us is a free gift of God. May our hearts be filled with gratitude and faith as was the heart of the Canaanite woman. God looks close at the ones who are humble but to the proud he looks from afar.

Peace, Fr. Nicholas