20 August 2023 | 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Foundation Day of the Pauline Family

Gospel Mt 15:21-28

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 Gospel Text

  And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed 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 out 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 right 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! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Reflections:

“I was sent to the lost sheep of the people of Israel” these words of Jesus affirm that He embraced the people of different cultures and traditions. Perhaps the Canaanite woman had sensed the heart of Jesus that she will not go back empty-handed. In spite of being a Canaanite she did not shy away but with faith, courageously places her request. She had wisdom and faith in her answer to Jesus – “…even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their Master’s table”. Jesus appreciates the undaunted faith of the Canaanite woman. Let us put our faith and trust in Jesus in all situations of life, especially when things seem different and life burdensome. He will never fail us.

Activity: 

Show kindness to a stranger you meet today.

Foundation Day of the Pauline Family

Prompted by the Spirit, Fr. Alberione founded a number of Institutes between 1914 and 1959. On 20th August 1914, the Society of St Paul was founded and it was the beginning of the Pauline Family. Five institutes of  religious life and 5 lay associations, all are connected to one another by the same spirituality and by a profound bond of communion. Speaking about this intense relationship, our Founder said: "There is a strong family bond among us because we were all born from the Tabernacle. We all share the same spirit, namely: to live Jesus Christ and serve the Church."

The Pauline Family is made up of five religious Congregations, one Lay Association and four Secular Institutes. The Daughters of St Paul was the second Institute to be founded, a year later, on June 15 , 1915.