Universal Faith

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge our tendency to put people in categories of worthiness that are contrary to the action of God with humanity.

Guides for our Path in Faith

The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah proclaims a universalism of Salvation for the Just.

* [56:1] This opening verse echoes themes that are well known throughout the Book of Isaiah: justice and right judgment (1:27; 5:7, 16; 9:6; 16:5; 26:9; 28:17; 32:1, 16; 33:5; 42:1, 4, 6; 45:8, 13, 19), salvation and deliverance (12:3; 26:18; 33:2; 45:8, 21; 46:13; 51:5, 6, 8). These themes will be developed also throughout Third Isaiah.

* [56:7] This verse continues the theme of universalism found in Is 49:6. As Israel was to be “a light to the nations” so that God’s “salvation may reach to the ends of the earth,” so now does that come to pass as foreigners, faithful to the divine commands, are brought to the Temple by God and joined to the covenant community of Israel. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 56 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 67 prays “May God be gracious to us”.

* [Psalm 67] A petition for a bountiful harvest (Ps 67:7), made in the awareness that Israel’s prosperity will persuade the nations to worship its God.

* [67:2] May God be gracious to us: the people’s petition echoes the blessing pronounced upon them by the priests, cf. Nm 6:22–27. (Psalms, PSALM 67 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Letter of Paul to the Romans proclaims the Gentiles’ Salvation through God’s Irrevocable Call.

* [11:11–15] The unbelief of the Jews has paved the way for the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles and for their easier acceptance of it outside the context of Jewish culture. Through his mission to the Gentiles Paul also hopes to fill his fellow Jews with jealousy. Hence he hastens to fill the entire Mediterranean world with the gospel. Once all the Gentile nations have heard the gospel, Israel as a whole is expected to embrace it. This will be tantamount to resurrection of the dead, that is, the reappearance of Jesus Christ with all the believers at the end of time.

* [11:25–29] In God’s design, Israel’s unbelief is being used to grant the light of faith to the Gentiles. Meanwhile, Israel remains dear to God (cf. Rom 9:13), still the object of special providence, the mystery of which will one day be revealed.

* [11:30–32] Israel, together with the Gentiles who have been handed over to all manner of vices (Rom 1), has been delivered…to disobedience. The conclusion of Rom 11:32 repeats the thought of Rom 5:20, “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.” (Romans, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus declares the Canaanite Woman’s Faith.

* [15:21–28] See note on Mt 8:5–13. (Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [8:5–13] This story comes from Q (see Lk 7:1–10) and is also reflected in Jn 4:46–54. The similarity between the Q story and the Johannine is due to a common oral tradition, not to a common literary source. As in the later story of the daughter of the Canaanite woman (Mt 15:21–28) Jesus here breaks with his usual procedure of ministering only to Israelites and anticipates the mission to the Gentiles. (Matthew, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

A Member of the Creighton University Community comments that a theme running through today’s readings is that of universalism. Universalism is at the root of Christianity, indeed the very word Catholic means precisely, “all-encompassing.”

The reason I can proclaim the gospel in English is precisely universalism, since the Gospel was not initially proclaimed in English and in fact it was not even proclaimed in Greek, the language of the written gospels, but in Aramaic. After centuries of circling the wagons, the Church has regained this universal perspective and ecumenism has been strongly present in the Second Vatican Council and in the Popes since that council. 

A non-adversarial attitude. (Member of the Creighton University Community, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Mother of the Gentiles,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century).

"After our Lord departed from the Jews, he came into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. He left the Jews behind and came to the Gentiles. Those whom he had left behind remained in ruin; those to whom he came obtained salvation in their alienation. And a woman came out of that territory and cried, saying to him, 'Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David!' O great mystery! The Lord came out from the Jews, and the woman came out from her Gentile territory. He left the Jews behind, and the woman left behind idolatry and an impious lifestyle. What they had lost, she found. The one whom they had denied in the law, she professed through her faith. This woman is the mother of the Gentiles, and she knew Christ through faith. Thus on behalf of her daughter (the Gentile people) she entreated the Lord. The daughter had been led astray by idolatry and sin and was severely possessed by a demon." (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 58) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments in the passage in Trito-Isaiah, post 539 BCE after the Exile in Babylon, that there are many Gentiles who have joined Israel. The Jewish people who remained in Jerusalem were more open to these new people but those returned wanted to keep Israel separate and holy. Friar Jude points to the former attitude in Jonah and the latter in Haggai and Zachariah to purify themselves. Paul is not calling for rejection of Jews but to convert them by showing the pagans can be saved and in their jealousy they may want to be saved too. God’s full plan is beyond our understanding. Everything, mistakes too, are an opportunity for God to show love and mercy. A Canaanite pagan woman, in Matthew, is told Jesus comes for Israel. Even as some hints in Magi, Centurian, and this woman that this may be a sarcastic and critical saying from Jesus to reveal her cleverness that moves Jesus. Friar Jude comments that she insists, as we should, when we pray to be clever and we may find what we truly need.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28 comments that the Canaanite woman was eager to believe. She believed he had the power and the willingness to work a miracle. As a result, she, a Gentile, experienced his love and power: her daughter “was healed from that hour” (Matthew 15:28).

This woman’s trust endeared her to Jesus—and to readers of Matthew’s Gospel ever since. Just as Jesus commended her faith, he welcomes all of us when we come to him with humble faith. He wants to shower his healing and “mercy upon all” (Romans 11:32). So if you hesitate to bring your needs to Jesus—or to return to the sacraments after time away—let this mother’s faith strengthen yours!

“Jesus, I believe in you!” (Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, describes why the example and message of the Hebrew prophets continue to be important for us today. There must be someone—or several someones—in every age who can tell the faith community, and society at large: Your first egoic glance at life—and God—­is largely wrong! And it is largely engendered by fear. “No one else is your problem,” says the prophet. “You are your own problem.

We must be eternally conscious of this fact: For the untransformed self, religion is the most dangerous temptation of all. Our egos, when they are validated by religion, are given full permission to enslave, segregate, demean, defraud, and inflate—because all bases are covered with pre-ascribed virtue and a supposed hatred of evil. This is what the prophets expose in their wholesale assault on temple worship, priestly classes, self- serving commandments, and intergenerational wealth. “Be very careful here!” they keep shouting. The prophets know that religion is the best and that religion also risks being the worst. We love to choose sides and declare ourselves sinless and pure and orthodox (“right”), with little evidence that it is true. This is always a surprise to everyone except the prophets. (Rohr, n.d.)

We praise the Spirit as we witness how God calls people of all heritage and history to join Him to be witness to love, faith, and hope as gifts from the Divine for all His siblings.

References

Isaiah, CHAPTER 56 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/56?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/15?21 

Matthew, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/8? 

Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/08/16/1648333/ 

Member of the Creighton University Community. (n.d.). Daily Reflection August 16, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-16-2026 

Psalms, PSALM 67 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/67?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Naming Our Idolatry. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/naming-our-idolatry/ 

Romans, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/11? 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Great Is Your Faith! Be It Done for You as You Desire. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 16, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Universal Love

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to reconsider if the scope of our mission as followers of Christ is truly “catholic”.

Universal Love

In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul responds to Accusations before Gallio and  Returns to Syrian Antioch.

* [18:12] When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia: Gallio’s proconsulship in Achaia is dated to A.D. 51–52 from an inscription discovered at Delphi. This has become an important date in establishing a chronology of the life and missionary work of Paul.

* [18:13] Contrary to the law: Gallio (Acts 18:15) understands this to be a problem of Jewish, not Roman, law.

* [18:18] He had his hair cut because he had taken a vow: a reference to a Nazirite vow (see Nm 6:1–21, especially, 6:18) taken by Paul (see also Acts 21:23–27). (Acts, ACTS OF THE APOSTLES | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 47 acknowledges the universal rule of Israel’s God.

* [Psalm 47] A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Ps 47:2–5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Ps 47:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 47 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus restates His teaching on departure and return.

* [16:4b–33] A duplicate of Jn 14:1–31 on departure and return. (John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Greg Dyche understands “in the name of” to mean “for the sake of the mission”. Jesus seems eager to further the mission, so if we ask for something in His name, God is going to answer.

The answer won’t always be what I think the mission needs or when I think the mission needs it, but God will answer for the sake of the mission. God has already given His Son for the sake of the mission, what else would he hold back?

I believe in the mission. I believe I am a part of the mission. If you’re reading this, we are on the mission together. That idea makes me a little happier. We aren’t alone, no matter how it feels at times. Let’s pray together, in the name of Jesus, that we can love others. And let’s do it together. (Dyche, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Alleluia will be our whole joy,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"I trust I will not weary you if I mention what you know already: that we say ALLELUIA daily and that we take delight in it daily. For you know that ALLELUIA means "Praise God" and by this expression we, agreeing in speech and thought, exhort one another to praise God. Only the one who displeases God in no respect praises God in security. Furthermore, in this time of journeying we say ALLELUIA for solace on our way. ALLELUIA is the song of the traveler for us; but we are advancing through a laborious path to a peaceful country where all our activities will be laid aside and nothing will remain for us except the ALLELUIA. Let us sing now, not for the delights of peace, but for comfort in our labor. Sing as travelers are accustomed to sing; comfort your labor by singing; do not love inactivity; keep singing and keep progressing. ...If you are advancing; progress in well-doing, progress in good faith, progress in good deeds. Keep singing and keep advancing. While we are here let us sing ALLELUIA though we are still beset with cares, so that in the future we may sing it there (in heaven) in tranquility. After the labors of this world there will be unceasing repetition of ALLELUIA. ..There ALLELUIA will be our food; ALLELUIA will be our drink; ALLELUIA will be our peaceful action; ALLELUIA will be our whole joy." [excerpts from Sermon 255 (1); Sermon 256 (1 and 3); Sermon 252 (9)] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 16:20-23 comments about our joy to know that we belong to Christ and that we have access to him at any time! That includes both the challenging times as well as the happy times. We can hear his assurance that he is with us when we are feeling burdened, and we can feel him rejoicing with us in the good times. Every day we can taste the sweetness of knowing that we are precious to him.

So let your heart rejoice! Jesus has promised that you will see him—that you can see him—right here and right now. And ask the Spirit to help you keep your eyes open for his presence within you and his work in the world and in the people around you.

“Lord Jesus, I rejoice in your presence!” (Meditation on John 16:20-23, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments Paul remained a long time in Corinth. The Spirit often speaks in dreams and we must discern carefully. Paul stayed there over a year. Gallio, proconsul of Achaia, was the brother of Seneca and the trial occurred around 51 CE. In Acts and Luke, Rome tries not to condemn Christians who are people who respect the Law. Paul makes a vow and in the tradition of Nazarites he shaves his head. In New Testament times it was a temporary vow and the head was shaved and hair still belongs to God. In Acts, Paul still follows some Jewish customs. In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks about suffering for Jesus and His disciples. They have pain like the woman in labour and they will give birth to something wonderful. Friar Jude reminds us that followers of Jesus must die to self and serve others. We are invited into the Love of the Cross by God.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Matthew Fox who traces the universal nature of Julian’s message of mystical hope and divine love. When she celebrates the beauty of being human, she again makes explicit that she is talking about all and not some sectarian group. “God made us so rich and noble in our essence that all we can do is strive to enact his will and honor him in all things. “In God’s sight, all humanity is one person, and all people are a single humanity.”… [1] For Julian, the traditional teaching of the church as the mystical body of Christ is extended to the entire human race.

When she celebrates the beauty of being human, she again makes explicit that she is talking about all and not some sectarian group. “God made us so rich and noble in our essence that all we can do is strive to enact his will and honor him in all things. When I say ‘we,’ I mean all true spiritual seekers.” [2] When she says “all,” she means all. This would include, in our time, all versions of Christians and all Jews, all Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, Muslims, goddess worshippers, those of indigenous religions, and those of no religions, whether agnostic or atheist. That is how ecumenical she is—and in the fourteenth century, no less. (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the universal love of God and invoke the Spirit to inspire our actions to be disciples of love, compassion, and care for all people, the Mystical Body of Christ, we encounter.

References

Acts, ACTS OF THE APOSTLES | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?9 

Dyche, G. (2026, May 15). Daily Reflection May 15, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-15-2026 

John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16 

Meditation on John 16:20-23. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/15/1568198/ 

Psalms, PSALM 47 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?20 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-dwells-in-all/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Discipline to end Division

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to blend discipline, correction, and universalism in our understanding of Jesus' invitation of love to all people.

Enter through the Door

 

In the reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah God Gathers the Nations

* [66:18–21] God summons the neighboring nations to Zion and from among them will send some to far distant lands to proclaim the divine glory. All your kin: Jews in exile. The “gathering of the people and the nations” is an eschatological motif common in the prophetic tradition; cf. 56:8. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 66 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 117 acknowledges God’s supremacy.

* [Psalm 117] This shortest of hymns calls on the nations to acknowledge God’s supremacy. The supremacy of Israel’s God has been demonstrated to them by the people’s secure existence, which is owed entirely to God’s gracious fidelity. (Psalms, PSALM 117 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the affectionate correction of the Lord.

* [12:1–13] Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith (Heb 12:1) but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph (Heb 12:2). Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood (Heb 12:3–4). Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents The Narrow Door; Salvation and Rejection.*

* [13:22–30] These sayings of Jesus follow in Luke upon the parables of the kingdom (Lk 13:18–21) and stress that great effort is required for entrance into the kingdom (Lk 13:24) and that there is an urgency to accept the present opportunity to enter because the narrow door will not remain open indefinitely (Lk 13:25). Lying behind the sayings is the rejection of Jesus and his message by his Jewish contemporaries (Lk 13:26) whose places at table in the kingdom will be taken by Gentiles from the four corners of the world (Lk 13:29). Those called last (the Gentiles) will precede those to whom the invitation to enter was first extended (the Jews). See also Lk 14:15–24. (Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Jim Caime, SJ, asks what do these readings say to us, as citizens, as voters, as members of a wounded and divided nation?

They challenge us to ask:

Are we creating systems that heal or harm?

Policies that welcome or walls that exclude?

Are we protecting comfort—or choosing compassion?

It’s not enough to say, “We go to church. We know the language.”

The question is: have we let Jesus change us?

Have we made space for others at the table?

Music is an important part of my spirituality.

If you’d like to continue reflecting, I offer this song:

You Can Do This Hard Thing - Carrie Newcomer (Caime, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “To enter the narrow door,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"'Wide is the door, and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.' What are we to understand by its broadness? ...A stubborn mind will not bow to the yoke of the law [the commandments of God]. This life is cursed and relaxed in all carelessness. Thrusting from it the divine law and completely unmindful of the sacred commandments, wealth, vices, scorn, pride and the empty imagination of earthly pride spring from it. Those who would enter in by the narrow door must withdraw from all these things, be with Christ and keep the festival with him."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 13:22-30 comments that Jesus invited everyone to follow him through that gate of obedient, self-giving love.

So open your heart to Jesus. If the gate feels too narrow, the path too difficult, or your resistance too great, confess your need to the Lord. Ask for his help! He loves you immeasurably. He embraced the cross so that the narrow gate could open wide for you.

“Lord, help me to follow you through the narrow gate.” (Meditation on Luke 13:22-30, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Isaiah reading is from Trito-Isaiah. After the Babylonian exile, the Israelites had returned with a universalism that recognized that God was of everyone. People could be brought to God by their example and a change in approach to the pagan people. Some would be priests and balance between selection and universality. Discipline in Hebrews is good for the child and discipline can purify our motives. Include suffering as an opportunity to cause us to hold on to God all the more. Strive to enter the narrow gate. It is difficult to die to self. Many may find God does not know them. They go through the motions but not in their heart. Friar Jude reminds us that Luke writes a Gospel for gentiles and Jesus teaching is intended for everyone.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on how his commitment to Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit have continually helped him recognize God in other religious traditions. Father Richard comments that “going deep in the Christian religion of my birth has enabled me to see the same Spirit and love in other religions as well.”

I realized that Indigenous peoples had contemplative prayer long before we Franciscans ever appeared. 

The rediscovery of Christian contemplation opened my eyes to Buddhists and Sufis—their teachings and practitioners. Buddhism taught me the phenomenology of perception—what’s going on in our brains. Every world religion at its mature level discovers some forms of practice to free us from our addictive mind, which we take as normal. Starting in the 1960s, our increased interaction with Eastern religions in general, and Buddhism in particular, helped us recognize and rediscover our own very ancient Christian contemplative tradition. The Sufis’ deep love of mysticism, especially as expressed by their poets Rumi and Hafiz, often captures the stirrings of my own heart. 

My latest discovery was Hinduism, which is considered the oldest world religion. In the early 1980s, I gave a retreat in Nepal. Between talks I would just walk the old streets, go into temples, and try to remain invisible. I remember these lovely Indian women coming in so gracefully, wearing saris, and paying no attention to anything else except perhaps the flame or the oil they were holding. With what reverence they would bow! What do we think they’re bowing to except God, the Mystery? Like the wind, the Spirit blows where it will (John 3:8). (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the guidance of the Spirit to be open to correction of our bias and prejudice as we work to accept the divine discipline that illuminates the path of both selection and universality.

References

Caime, J. (2025, August 23). Daily Reflection August 24, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-24-2025 

Hebrews, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12?5 

Isaiah, CHAPTER 66 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/66?18 

Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/13?22 

Meditation on Luke 13:22-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/?utm_content=buffer5c902&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

Psalms, PSALM 117 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/117?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). An Open Christianity. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-open-christianity/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Risk Being Shut Out. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug24