21st sunday- A

21st Sunday-year A 

Once an older man was walking in the street holding hands with a beautiful woman and laughing and joking. The very next week as he went to see his family doctor, he said, "Thank you for your advice. "The doctor said, "What did I say?" You said, "Get a hot mama and be cheerful". The doctor said, "No... all I said was, "you had heart murmur and be careful". 

Once two pigeons were sitting on a pinnacle of a beautiful catholic church and then the little baby pigeon said to his mother, "Mom, what is going on down there and why are people arguing and fighting?" The mother said, "Son, they all believe in Christ but they are Anglicans, Baptists, Pentecostal and so on. They are all divided in the name of Christ and they are fighting to know who is better". Mom, I don't understand these people. Son, we are better than people who fight in the name of Christ and that is why we are up in the sky flying and they are down below fighting. 

Today's readings talk about the universal nature of the kingdom of God. Every living creature belongs to the kingdom of God. Though people are away from God and though people belong to different religions, they all still belong to one God in Christ Jesus. We have one God and one Savior and we have one spirit and one baptism. We are one in Christ Jesus.  

Through the prophet Isaiah, God says that His house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. In the sight of God, everyone is important and precious and He loves us all without any partiality. 

St. Paul is called the apostle of the gentiles. He says although God sent His son to the chosen people first and since they did not accept Him, then God turned to the gentiles who received mercy through Christ our Lord. 

In the gospel, a Canaanite woman received healing and compassion.  

Once Gandhi who loved the bible and the teaching of the Christ so much wanted to become a Christian and went to church one day and saw how people treated each other and thus he left the church and never went back saying, "I love your Christ but not your Christians" 

Jesus did many amazing things among gentiles who were considered cursed people. For example, the woman whom he met at the well... He changed everything in her life and she became a missionary of the good news.  

What about the Centurian a non- Jew, who came to Christ and said, "Lord, my servant is paralyzed and suffering, please help him" Amazed at his faith, Christ Himself said, "Shall I come to your house?" The Centurian who was filled with faith and hope bowed before the king of the universe Christ our Lord and said, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you under my roof but only say the word my servant be healed." 

I have witnessed many non-Christians such as Muslims and Hindus going to Catholic shrines and churches and receiving healing and miracles. 

Christ the Lord the Savior and Good Shepherd is for all and our church is too small to hold Him. And on the other hand, we are so blessed to know Him more and thus receive more blessings and healings. 

Today's Gospel, the Canaanite woman a non-Jew by trusting Him completely receives healing for her child. Yes, as we have faith, we too will experience and witness more miracles and wonders in our lives. 

Conclusion: 

Let us not only experience the miracles and wonders, but we should take the loving message of Christ our Lord to everywhere and thus one day, every one will come to know that Christ is the Lord and God. Amen.