The Readings for August 20th, 2017

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

 1Thus says the Lord:

  Maintain justice, and do what is right,

 for soon my salvation will come,

  and my deliverance be revealed.

 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,

  to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,

  and to be his servants,

 all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,

  and hold fast my covenant—

 7these 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.

 8Thus says the Lord God,

  who gathers the outcasts of Israel,

 I will gather others to them

  besides those already gathered.

Psalm: Psalm 67

1 May God be merciful to us and bless us, 

    show us the light of his countenance and come to us.

2 Let your ways be known upon earth, 

    your saving health among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; 

    let all the peoples praise you.

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, 

    for you judge the peoples with equity

    and guide all the nations upon earth.

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; 

    let all the peoples praise you.

6

The earth has brought forth her increase; 

    may God, our own God, give us his blessing.

7 May God give us his blessing, 

    and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

Second Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

[Paul writes:] 1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2aGod has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

  29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Gospel: Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28

[10[Jesus] called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand:11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”] 

  21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.