August 20
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“O God, let all the nations praise you!”
Readings
Reflection
Each week in the readings of Sunday Mass we tend to see overarching themes. Today’s theme is the question of the insider versus the outsider. Although important to human beings, God shatters the divisions that humans use to separate themselves from others.
A human reality is that each group, whether religious, cultural, political, or national, clearly states what they believe and with whom they identify. These groups do this to delineate themselves from other groups around them. While some of these delineations are necessary, when it comes to Jesus, we see him break out of the limitations imposed on him by his cultural identity.
We would be mistaken if we believed the culture Jesus was born into did not affect him personally. If he was not impacted, it would make what Jesus did somewhat less important, or indeed, less remarkable. Jesus’ culture did affect him but he succeeded in bringing the outsider, those that society thought of as unclean or unworthy of God, to the forefront of his ministry. It was these people that he cured, forgave and loved. Where would we be today if Jesus had not broken out of these cultural expectations? Salvation would not be possible!
As for us, we are insiders because of our belief in Christ, but can be outsiders due to our sin. Through the forgiveness that we receive from Jesus, are we willing to reach out to everyone around us and invite him or her to the table of Christ? If so, then the outsider becomes the insider, and we help continue the work of Jesus!
Peace,
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