LOVING WITH GOD'S HEART
A Pastoral Reflection
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah offers a powerful reflection on God’s love. The people of Israel, the Jews, believed, of course, that they were God’s chosen, bound to God by a covenant of love and obedience. The reading opens with this call to them: “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.”
But then he adds a word of invitation to “foreigners,” those not born into the chosen people but who nonetheless honor God by the goodness and sincerity of their lives. The Jews often referred to the “God-fearing” among the nations. In the gospel, Jesus hears the fervent prayer of a Canaanite woman, not a Jewess, whose daughter was possessed by an evil spirit. He affirms her gift of faith and blesses her, and reveals that God cares for all. May he open our hearts, too, in friendship to all who seek to know and honor the ways of God!
En la primera lectura, el profeta Isaías ofrece una poderosa reflexión sobre el amor de Dios. El pueblo de Israel, los judíos, creían, por supuesto, que eran los elegidos de Dios, unidos a Dios por un pacto de amor y obediencia. La lectura comienza con esta llamada a ellos: “Así dice el SEÑOR: Observen la justicia, hagan la justicia; porque mi salvación está por venir, mi justicia, por ser revelada.”
Pero luego agrega una palabra de invitación a los “extranjeros,” aquellos que no nacieron en el pueblo elegido pero que, sin embargo, honran a Dios con la bondad y sinceridad de sus vidas. Los judíos a menudo se referían a los “Temerosos de Dios” entre las naciones. En el evangelio, Jesús escucha la ferviente oración de una mujer cananea, no una judía, cuya hija estaba poseída por un espíritu maligno. Afirma su don de fe y le bendice, y muestra que Dios se peocupa por todos. ¡Ojalá abra también nuestros corazónes con amistad a todos los que buscan conocer y honrar los caminos de Dios!
Fr. (Padre) Anthony, SSS, Pastor
Notes
St. Joseph's Church Downtown is open with the usual schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, sacraments, and ministry. Because of increased coronavirus cases locally, social distancing, hand-sanitizing, and the use of a face mask are observed during church services, in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Videos of Sunday Mass and other Masses from St. Joseph's are posted on YouTube at the St. Joseph Church Downtown Media page. We thank John Francis Strelchun and his parents for filming and editing these videos so beautifully. Some Masses are also live-streamed.
Faith Formation at St. Joseph's Downtown. Presently, we are working on the 2020-2021 calendar for the Sacramental Preparation, Faith Formation, the Rites of Christian Initiation for Children and Adults, Confirmation for Teens and Adults, and First Penance and First Communion. We will abide by the guidelines of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in providing a safe environment for the students and the teachers. Please call Bea at 210-227-0126, ext. 210, if you would like to register your child(ren) in one of these classes.
In a spirit of caring for each other in these difficult days, we encourage you to support efforts to feed our neighbors in need via Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and area food banks.