First Reading

First reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 56, 1. 6-7

Thus says the Lord:
«Observe the rights of others,
practice justice,
for my salvation is about to come
and my justice is about to be revealed.

To the foreigners who have joined themselves to the Lord
to serve him, to love him and to worship him,
to those who keep the sabbath without profaning it
and remain faithful to my covenant,
I will bring them to my holy mountain
and fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar,
for my temple shall be a house of prayer
for all peoples».

Second reading

Reading from the letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Romans

Romans 11, 13-15. 29-32

Brothers and sisters: I have something to say to you who are not Jews, and I try to carry out this ministry as best I can. But I do this also to see if I can provoke the jealousy of those of my own race and save some of them. For if their rejection has meant reconciliation for the world, what will their reintegration be but resurrection from the dead? For God does not repent of his gifts or his choice.

Just as you were once rebels against God and have now received his mercy on account of the rebellion of the Jews, in the same way, the Jews, who are now the rebels and who were the occasion for you to receive God’s mercy, will also receive it. In fact, God has allowed all of us to fall into rebellion, in order to show his mercy to all of us.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 15, 21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then a Canaanite woman came out to meet him and began to cry out: «Lord, son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is terribly tormented by a demon». Jesus did not answer her a single word; but the disciples came up to him and begged him: «Attend to her, for she keeps crying out behind us». He replied: «I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel

She then approached Jesus and, kneeling before him, said to him: «Lord, help me!» He answered her: «It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs». But she replied: «It is true, Lord; but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table». Then Jesus answered her: «Woman, how great is your faith! Let what you desire be done». And at that very moment her daughter was healed.