Discussion Questions for Sunday's Readings 
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (20A), August 17, 2008
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University


SUNDAY READINGS

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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups, 
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Isaiah, Chapter 56, Verses 1,6-7

1. In this reading God offers saving mercy to all people. Where are you on the continuum: are you rather passively non-exclusive of people? Or are you aggressively inclusive?

2. Could inclusiveness be improved where you work, live, play, pray? How? What can you do to improve an exclusive situation?


Second Reading
Romans, Chapter 11, Verses 13-15, 29-32

1. “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” According to St. Paul’s statement, will God ever change God’s mind and stop loving you? “Even if we are faithless he is faithful, because he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) Explain this quote in the light of the first one.

2. What are the implications of the above quotes for you?

Gospel
Matthew, Chapter 15, Verses 21-28

1. Jesus invited the Canaanite woman to plead her case. What virtues did she possess that made her request impossible for him to resist?

2. This woman’s faith broke through some barriers erected to exclude certain people. What exclusions do you see today that you think need to be broken through? 


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By Anne Osdieck of the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

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