SUNDAY READINGS: TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (AUGUST 16, 2026).

SUNDAY READINGS: TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (AUGUST 16, 2026).

• Reflections
• August 15,2026

Sunday August 16, 2026

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Office: Psalter Week 4, Te Deum

Mass Prop. Gloria. Creed. Preface of Sunday

Vestment: Green

Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery

Vespers II of the 20th Sunday of the Year

NATIONAL FAMILY WEEK ENDS

KONTAGORA: Tomorrow is the 24th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Dr. Timothy J. Carroll, SMA (Emeritus,) 17th August 2002.

BAUCHI: Tomorrow is the 9th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Hilary N. Dechelem, CMF, 17th August 2017.

Theme of the Sunday: WHAT DOES “CATHOLIC CHURCH” MEAN? “Catholic” stands for “universal,” that is, open to all people. The first reading tells us that Israel, before going into exile and before coming in contact with other peoples, was not “catholic,” it was closed in upon itself. Later Israel, more enlightened, realized that the one God is Father of all. The gospel shows what Jesus thinks. Christian communities must be really “catholic,” open to receive everybody, the second reading is related to this topic and shows that salvation is not a result of privilege or because one is a member of a certain people, but because one accepts the saving initiative of God.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Ps 83:10-11

Turn your eyes, O God, our shield; and look on the face of your anointed one; one day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

THE GLORIA (When indicated this hymn is either sung or said)

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you. We bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

COLLECT

O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire.  Through our Lord…

FIRST READING                                                           

“And the foreigners I will bring to my holy mountain.” 

A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 56: 1, 6-7)

Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, every one who keeps the Sabbath, and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSLAM Ps 67:2-3.5.6.8 (R. 4) 

R/. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

O God, be gracious and bless us

And let your face shed its lights upon.

So will your ways be known upon earth 

and all nations learn your salvation. R/.

Let the nations be glad and shout for joy, 

with uprightness you rule the peoples; 

you guide the nations on earth. R/.

R/. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

Let the peoples praise you, O God; 

let all the peoples praise you.

May God still give us his blessing

That all the ends of the earth may revere him. R/.

SECOND READING

“The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (Romans 11:13-15.29-32)

Brethren: I am speaking to you Gentiles. In as much then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA  Matthew 4:23

Alleluia. Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“O woman, great is your faith!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew15:21-28)

At that time: Jesus went away and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But   she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

The Gospel of the Lord.

THE CREED (I Believe) 

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Celebrant:

The Canaanite woman in our Gospel is presented to us as a model of true faith in God. As we look up to God for our various needs let us ask him to increase our faith.

FOR THE CHURCH: that she may understand herself as the universal expression of the openness of Christ to all men and women irrespective of race, status and creed. Let us pray to the Lord.

FOR CIVIL LEADERS: that the Lord may grant them the wisdom to always make decisions that enhance the well being of those under their care. Let us pray to the Lord.

FOR CHRISTIANS WHO ARE PERSECUTED ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR FAITH: that, sustained by the Holy Spirit, they may persevere in faithfully witnessing to the love of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH HEALTH CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY: that they may, in faith and humility, turn to the Lord and through the aid of healthcare workers, improve the wellbeing of their children. Let us pray to the Lord.

FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).

FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.

We pray in silence for our private intentions.

Celebrant:

O God our Father, you are highly revered through all the earth. We humbly ask you to hear the prayers we have offered to you and to increase our faith in you. Through Christ our Lord.

R/. Amen.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Today’s readings repeat the biblical concept that from the beginning God planned to gather all peoples together into one flock. Isaiah tells us in the first Reading that even the foreigners who come to the Lord, who love the name of the Lord, and live faithfully, will be brought to the mountain of the Lord to live joyfully in the house of prayer. St Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, reminds us in the second Reading,”… by the mercy shown to you, they also may receive mercy.” Jesus praises the faith of a Canaanite woman and grants her request despite belonging to a foreign region.

Salvation is not meant only for the house of Israel. No one is excluded from God’s love and care. It is not meant only for those who belong to our church; it includes all categories of people: the foreign immigrant who lives on our streets, the outsider who is not a member of our church, the public sinner whom the society abhors, and the criminal who languishes in the prison cells. As Christians, our attitude must be one of openness, understanding and acceptance of people of all communities, creeds, regions, languages, social standards and character traits. The reason is that Jesus died and rose for all, and he is the Lord and Saviour of all. God cares for all his children without exception.