THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 16TH AUGUST 2026

Our readings today tell us of the universality of the kingdom of God. Fr Marcel told us on the feast of transfiguration that the kingdom of God is really, beautiful and for everyone. Though God first offered the Jews and then through them alone to the rest of the World. But God included all nations in his plan for salvation and blessed all the families of the earth.

In our first reading the prophet Isaiah said my house shall be a house of prayer for all people. In God’s eye all human being regardless of raise, colour intelligent, charm are his dear children by creation and adoption.

In the second reading St Paul reminds us of the needs to be servants of God’s word, he is merciful, and plans for us does not change. God’s chosen people rejection of Jesus provide opportunities to St Paul to turn to the gentiles with the good news there by bring them to Christ.

St Thomas said God permit evil only if he can draw a greater good out of it. God permitted Jews and Gentiles to disobey him so that he could show them mercy by offering eternal life to everyone who wish to have it. The Gospel text describes a miraculous healing Jesus performed for a gentile woman, the healing of the Canaanite’s woman daughter took place outside the Jewish territory, Tyre and Sidon which a modern day Lebanon. It for shadows the extension of the Gospel to the whole world.

Even though the Canaanite woman was regarded as pagan and rituality unclean but she showed a gallant and audacious love her daughter. Persistent in hope and cheerfulness in rejection. Jesus demonstrated that his mission is to build bridges, break down barriers and remove long standing walls of division and of Jew and Gentiles. God loves all his children welcoming everyone who believes in him, ask for his mercy and tries to do his will.

Fr Peter Ehinmiro