Deacon Robb Naylor of St. Phillip’s Church in Bemidji shared a reflection on the weekend Gospel reading in the church's Aug. 16 bulletin.

Naylor noted the importance of realizing that God wants all individuals, regardless of identity or background, to have a relationship with Him and comprehend His mercy and love.

“Jesus speaks to a Canaanite woman in a way that at first makes many of us feel uneasy,” Naylor said in the bulletin. “The woman pleads for Christ to heal her daughter, but He refuses because she’s not a Jew. Jesus explains that His ministry is only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and not for a Canaanite woman and her family.”

Naylor explains that the words of Jesus are certainly applicable under what was the old covenant. With the arrival of Christ, however, the woman is able to plead directly to God, despite the fact that historically she would have been an outsider. Though her earthly identity was not that of a follower of Christ, her faith allowed her to receive the benefits of his grace.

Additional readings from Isaiah and Paul remind us that God’s kingdom is meant to be for all people.

“Saint Paul’s own mission to the Gentiles confirms the prophecy of Isaiah," Naylor said. "In his Letter to the Romans, he writes that through God’s own design, the Gentiles also are receiving the gifts and call of God."

Thanks to God’s grace and generosity, we are all able to have access to the Kingdom of Heaven, not because of our heritage or tradition but because of the work of Christ Jesus. It is now our job to bring those on the outside into the fold of God’s love.

“Each of us has a role in welcoming those who seek God’s healing and mercy,” Naylor said. “Let us pray that God’s grace granted to us through the sacraments will help us be a channel to bring that grace to others, like the Canaanite woman, who come seeking the help of our Lord and Savior.”