My house will be called a house of prayer for
all peoples, says the Lord. As the Lord welcomes us, may we be open to all. May
the Lord, the Saviour of all, be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
1. How Catholic Are We?
How wide are the doors of our Church? Is there
a place in our Church for everyone? We know and profess that God is the Father
of all people. We believe and announce that Jesus died for everyone and all.
Yet, is that the reality? We even look down on other Christians, and at times
on other Catholics too, because they do not honour the Lord in exactly the same
way as we do. Let us ask the Lord of all to help us do away with all
discrimination and with him to make us open to all.
2. Strangers No More
What do we think of aliens and strangers and
how do we treat them? What is our attitude toward people who are different? The
Christian position should be one of acceptance and welcome, for this is God’s
attitude. All are God’s children, and he wants the happiness of all. He calls
all to his house and wants it to be a house of prayer for all. With Christ, let
us welcome all.
Penitential Act
Let us ask pardon from God and one another that
our hearts are often closed and not as wide as God’s heart. (pause)
Lord Jesus, Son of David, you
revealed to us your Father as the God of all people: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord,
have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you came to save all people and
you died and rose for all: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy
Lord Jesus, you hear the prayer of pagans and
make yourself known to all those who seek you: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord,
have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us our
narrow-mindedness and our selfishness. Give us wide open hearts and lead us to
everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray to the Father of all that our
heart, like his own, may be open to all people (pause)
Father of all, long ago you chose the people of
Israel to make your name known to all the nations. Your Son Jesus Christ made
it clear that forgiveness and fullness of life are the share of all who believe
in him. Make your Church truly a place of encounter for all those who grope for
you, that all obstacles and barriers may be removed and that the riches of all
nations and cultures may reveal the thousand faces of the love you show us in
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 56:1,
6-7
Foreigners Are No Longer Strangers: Not
only the Jewish people but also pagans are called to live in the house of God.
All those who want to be part of the covenant are no longer strangers to God
and his people.
Second Reading; Romans
11:13-15, 29-32
God’s Mercy Extends to All: Most
of the Jews did not accept Christ as the Saviour. This was the occasion for the
Church to preach the Good News to the pagans. God wants all to be saved, Jews
and pagans.
Gospel; Matthew 15:21-28
There Is Room for Pagans in the Father’s
House :Jesus affirms that priority is given to the Jews
as heirs of the Messianic promises. Yet the kingdom is open to all who believe.
Prayers of the Faithful
Let us pray to God our Father, who opens his
heart and home to all who seek him, and let us say: R/ Listen to your people,
Lord.
– That the Church may be attentive to the life and needs of
today’s world and discover in its aspirations bridges toward Christian hope,
let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That there may be room in the
universal Church for the cultural riches of various peoples and for manifesting
one and the same faith in a variety of languages and forms of expression, let
us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That the Jews, the first people
called by God, may see their hopes fulfilled and one day discover Christ as
their Savior, let us pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That we may open our hearts and
homes to those that are hard to accommodate: strangers and refugees, the
jobless and the poor, victims of discrimination and oppression; that we may do
all we can to integrate them into the human and Christian community, let us
pray: R/ Listen to your people, Lord.
– That all of us here may be
concerned about those who are not here because they are estranged from the
Church, that our lives may reveal Christ to them, let us pray: R/ Listen
to your people, Lord.
God our Father, do not allow us ever to become
a self-enclosed, self-satisfied group, but make us into a real community open
to all people and all needs, on account of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer unnoticed—it takes place normally during
the Agnus Dei—and the Gifts
Prayer over the
Offerings
God our Father, you set the table of your Son for
all who are willing to come: for saints and for sinners, for the poor and the
rich. Give us your Son Jesus Christ. May we learn from him to give to all those
who ask for food or love not meager crumbs or leftovers, but the food of
ourselves, as Jesus does here for us, Your Son and our Lord forever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration, we
remember that Christ died and rose for all and wants to gather all into his
kingdom.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
In the words of Jesus our Lord let us pray to
the Father of all that his kingdom may come to every person on earth.
R/ Our Father...
Prayer for Peace
Lord Jesus Christ, you want to bring the peace
of your kingdom to everyone willing to receive your love. At the table of your
kingdom you regard no one as a stranger. Dispose us too, to recognize in every
person a beloved son or daughter of your Father. Make us share your peace with
all and lead all into your kingdom where you live forever. R/ Amen.
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord, who has set his table
for us. He invites all those who believe in him and are willing to come to him.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, in this Eucharist we have all
been one in Jesus Christ your Son. He died and rose to life for all; his
likeness is reflected in the face of every human being: let it become visible
in all. Let his face not be marred or divided by our prejudices and fears; do
not allow our love to be less than universal, but unite us all in him who is
our common way to you and to one another, Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We have heard the Lord tell us in this
Eucharist: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” The
Lord’s house is not merely this building of stone where we gather to pray, but
the People of God, the living body of Christ. May there be room in this house, that
is, among us, in our Christian communities, for all people, whatever their race
or social class, their culture or education. May Almighty God bless you all: the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go and bear witness to the worldwide love of
the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.
REFLECTIONS; Matthew 15:21-28
Persistent Prayer, Boundless
Mercy
In today's Gospel (Mt 15:21-28),
Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman who begs him to free her daughter from
demonic possession. At first, Jesus remains silent, and explains that his
mission is directed to the people of Israel. Using the image of children and
dogs, he tests her faith. Undeterred, the woman humbly replies that even dogs
eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table. Moved by her unwavering
trust, Jesus declares, "Woman, great is your faith!" and immediately
heals her daughter.
This encounter reveals both the
compassion of Christ and the power of authentic faith. Jesus' response shows
that God's love is never rigid. Although his earthly ministry began with
Israel, this moment foreshadows the universal salvation that would later
embrace all peoples. Love is always attentive, creative and open to the needs
of others. Jesus allows himself to be touched by genuine faith and suffering,
reminding us that true compassion is never closed to change.
The Canaanite woman's faith is
remarkable not because of her knowledge of religious teachings, but because of
her perseverance. She approaches Jesus with humility, refuses to give up, and
continues to trust despite every apparent rejection. Her faith is expressed
through prayer, persistence and a personal relationship with the Lord rather
than mere words or religious labels.
This Gospel invites us to examine ourselves. Are our hearts open and compassionate, or hardened by rigidity? Is our faith limited to beliefs we profess, or is it lived through trusting prayer, perseverance and loving action?
