August 14^th, 2011 (Y-A) Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“ OH WOMAN, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH!
LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU AS YOU WISH “

INTRODUCTION TO THE MASS

In today’s Gospel we meet a pagan woman who had the most extraordinary faith in Jesus, a faith that was rewarded with the cure of her sick daughter. During this mass let us with faith bring our needs and concerns to God, whose children we are. [Pause]

LORD Jesus, you are gracious and you bless us. LORD, have mercy.

You let your face shed its light upon us. Christ, have mercy.

You guide the nations on earth. LORD, have mercy

OPENING PRAYER

God our Father,

May we love you in all things and above all things and reach the joy you have prepared for us beyond all our imagining.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

R. Amen

FIRST READING: Is 56:1,6-7

A reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah

Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants — all who keep the Sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

R. Thanks be to GOD.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 67: 2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters: I am speaking to you Gentiles.  Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them.  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.  Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.  For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

R. Thanks be to GOD.

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Mt 15:21-28

V. The Lord be with you                                       R. And also with you.

X A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

R. Glory to you, Lord

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.  

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.