Readings for the Day:
Isaiah 56:1, 6-8: The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God’s imminent intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other category.
Romans 11:1-2, 29–32: God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are irrevocable so that, while all have been disobedient, God has mercy upon all.
Matthew 15:10-28: Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be a religious outsider approaches him for help.
‘From Sunday & Seasons, copyright 2023 Augsburg Fortress’
Questions To Ponder:
1— How do you see the ways that God gathers people to himself? (Isaiah 56:8)
2—How are you in need of God’s mercy and love this week? (Ro. 11:1-2, 29-32)
3—How do you understand the interaction between Jesus and the Canaanite woman? (Matthew 15:10-28)
4—How do these texts speak to you today?
Prayer: God of all peoples, your arms reach out to embrace all those who call upon you. Teach us as disciples of your Son to love the world with compassion and constancy, that your name may be known throughout the earth. Amen.