Education in Faith

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Lord, help me.”

The readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, centre strongly on God’s universal love, persistent faith, mercy and the call to welcome everyone. 

The First Reading from Isaiah speaks of God’s house as “a house of prayer for all peoples,” while Psalm 67 calls all nations to praise God. 

Romans remind us that God’s mercy is offered to all, and the Gospel presents the remarkable faith and persistence of the Canaanite woman.

Have you ever really 

wanted something important, but it seemed as though nobody was listening?

Perhaps you asked a teacher for help, prayed for something to change, or kept trying to solve a problem even when you felt discouraged. Sometimes, when our prayers seem unanswered, we can wonder: “Does God really hear me?”

In this week’s Gospel, we hear how God listens and gives us a powerful answer.

A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus because her daughter is suffering. She calls out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!” She is persistent. She does not give up. Even when the disciples want Jesus to send her away, she continues to ask for help.

Eventually, Jesus recognises the depth of her faith and says, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

At first, this Gospel can seem difficult. Why does Jesus appear to ignore her? Why does he seem reluctant to respond?

Perhaps Matthew is inviting us to look beyond the surface of the story. The woman is a Canaanite, an outsider. She does not belong to the Jewish community. Yet she recognises something that others may not fully recognise: Jesus is Lord, and she trusts completely in his mercy.

Her faith breaks through the barriers of culture, nationality and belonging.

And this is exactly what the First Reading from Isaiah announces. God says that his house will be “a house of prayer for all peoples.” God's love is not reserved for a particular group. God's invitation is wider than our human boundaries.

The Responsorial Psalm reinforces this message:

“O God, let all the nations praise you!”

Not just some nations.  Not just people who are like us. All nations.

The Psalm reminds us that God's blessing is meant to reach beyond our own communities and extend to the whole world.

Paul takes this message even further in the Second Reading. He speaks about God's mercy and reminds us that “the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” God's mercy is not something we earn by being perfect. It is a gift that God continually offers.  A faith that refuses to give up.  

The Canaanite woman gives us a beautiful example of persistent faith.

She could have walked away.

She could have become angry.

She could have thought, “Jesus doesn't want to help 

me.”

Instead, she continues to trust.

Her simple prayer is: “Lord, help me.”

There are times when this may be the only prayer we can manage.

When we are worried: Lord, help me.

When someone we love is suffering: Lord, help me.

When we feel lonely: Lord, help me.

When we don't know what to do: Lord, help me.

And sometimes, the answer to our prayer may not come in the way or at the time we expect. 

Yet the Gospel reminds us that we can continue to place our trust in God's mercy.

Who are the people we might overlook?

There is another important challenge in the readings.

The Canaanite woman was considered an outsider. Yet Jesus welcomes her faith.

This challenges us to think about the people we might unintentionally exclude.

• Who sits alone at school?
• Who finds it difficult to make friends?
• Who is new to the community?
• Who speaks a different language?
• Who looks, thinks or acts differently from us?
• Who might feel that they don't belong?

Isaiah's message is clear: God's house is a house for all peoples.

As followers of Christ, we are called to make our learning spaces, homes, workplaces, parishes and communities places where people experience that same welcome.

The question is not simply, “Who belongs here?”

The Gospel invites us to ask:

“Who might need us to make them feel that they belong?”

A challenge for this weekend

This weekend, let us take three things from these readings:

Be persistent in faith.Like the Canaanite woman, don't give up bringing your needs and the needs of others to God.

Be generous in mercy.Remember that God's mercy is offered to everyone.

Be welcoming.Look beyond differences and notice someone who may feel like an outsider.

Perhaps our prayer this weekend can be very simple:

“Lord, help me to trust you. Lord, help me to see others as you see them. Lord, help me to make everyone feel welcome.”

Because when we truly walk with Christ, we discover that God's table is bigger than our own boundaries, God's mercy is greater than our limitations, and God's love reaches every person.

Discussion Starters

1. Why did the Canaanite woman approach Jesus?
2. What does her persistence tell us about her faith?
3. How do you think she might have felt when Jesus did not answer her immediately?
4. Why do you think Jesus praised her faith?
5. Isaiah says that God's house is “a house of prayer for all peoples.” What does this mean?
6. The Psalm says, “Let all the nations praise you.” Why is it important that God's love extends to everyone?
7. How does the Canaanite woman demonstrate the message of the Psalm?
8. What does Paul's message about God's mercy teach us about how we should treat others?
9. Have you ever had to keep trusting or trying when something was difficult?
10. Who might feel like an “outsider” in our school or community?
11. What could you do to help someone feel that they belong?
12. Are there times when we exclude people because they are different from us?
13. What does “Lord, help me” mean to you?
14. What is one way you can show God's welcoming love to someone this week?

Complete these sentences:

• The part of today's Gospel that speaks most strongly to me is…
• The Canaanite woman's faith challenges me to…
• Someone I could make feel more welcome is…
• This week, I will show God's mercy by…
• My prayer to Jesus this week is…

“God's love and mercy are for everyone. Like the Canaanite woman, we are called to have persistent faith and to make others feel welcomed and included.”

Sacramental Dates for 2026

Parents please be aware of the following dates and note them in your calendar:

• Grade 2 will receive First Reconciliation in Term 4 on Thursday, 19th November 2026.
• Grade 6 will receive Confirmation – Term 3 on Saturday, 29th  August 2026.

Reconciliation: baptised Catholics in Year 2.

Confirmation: Year 6 Catholics who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and Eucharist.

If you have any further questions regarding your child receiving these Sacraments, please feel free to contact me at the school.

God Bless  

Rozeta Ambrose ~ Religious Education Leader

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM – MINI VINNIES

GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM – MINI VINNIES

COMMUNITY SPIRIT HOUSE POINTS

Students will continue to be awarded points for demonstrating Community Spirit, in particular our PBL Values. These points will be added to the Community Spirit House points. The tally so far:

Well done Patrick! However, it’s only the beginning of Term 3 and the points are so close! Still two terms to go!!! 

And now, thanks to the School Advisory Council family members can contribute to House Points also for assisting with school events!!! What a great initiative!! If parents come in to assist with: selling icy poles, uniforms, fun lunches, Father’s Day Breakfast or stall please ensure you fill out the form near the iPad where you sign in and points will be allocated to your child’s house. If you assist with an out of school hours event, the person in charge will have the form for you to fill in. Let’s see what a difference family contributions to House Points makes!!!!

HOMELESSNESS WEEK – ORIGAMI HOUSES

Homelessness Week (3-9 August 2026) is a national opportunity to learn, advocate and take meaningful action. The 2026 theme, Homelessness Action Now, encourages all Australians to work together to create lasting solutions to homelessness. 

Well our display is looking great!!! So many origami houses. In totat we were able to add ___ to the Victorian Count of origami houses. This will surely send a message to our Government and hopefully we will have more affordable houses built for vulnerable people within our community. SFS you have made a real difference once again!!!

MINI VINNIES SOUP & CHAT NIGHT – TUESDAY AUGUST 18TH 

Parents our annual Mini Vinnies Soup & Chat Night focussing on homelessness will be next week on Tuesday August 18th this year from 4.30 – 7.30pm. 

Thank you to the Mini Vinnies that have handed in their donations! For those that have not yet handed them in it can be brought to school on Monday. On the Soup & Chat Night Mini Vinnies will then decide who these donations will be given to and we will let you know. 

I have now contacted any parent who volunteered to make soup. All other items that parents have offered to donate can be brought to the school office Monday17th August and Tuesday 18th August. Parents who have offered to assist on the night if you could arrive at 5.00pm to help prepare for the meal that Mini Vinnies will have at roughly 6.00pm and then assist to clean up afterwards? If you would like to remain at school then to collect your child at 7.30pm you are most welcome to join us in the Community Room to see what we are doing. Thank you so much to all the parents who have offered to make soup, donate items or assist on the night. Soup & Chat Night would not be possible without your assistance.

MINI VINNIES CONFERENCE TERM 3 – Wednesday September 16th 

In Week 10 on Wednesday September 16th, Mini Vinnies have been invited to the Mini Vinnies Conference run by the Youth Engagement Team from St Vincent de Paul. As well as being involved in activities, Mini Vinnies who attend will need to present an action we have taken at SFS. 

The ten Mini Vinnies attending have decided the action they would like to present is Soup & Chat Night. We are now looking at the most interesting way we can present our action. We will keep you informed as we decide on how we will present.

Giuliana

Mini Vinnies Facilitator 

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au