Citizens of Heaven

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 15:21-28

The key to the healing of the daughter of the Canaanite woman was her total submission to God.  Jesus just didn't see this in any of the Jews who felt that they were the chosen ones; thus, they felt they were above everybody.

In the first reading, we pose this question:  "Who will climb the mountain of the Lord?"  The Lord will accept in his holy mountain the following:

1. those who have submitted themselves totally totally at the service of God (pagtalima) - no one is exempt from this, especially those who are busy with family affairs and work.  Without any conditions, let us place all our cares and concerns under the Lord's feet and orient everyone in the family to serve the Lord;

2. Integrity and upright of heart (kabuuan) - they are single-hearted for God; not those who are fragmented, overwhelmed with other concerns which are all inferior to God; those who don't sell themselves to the world, but yield totally to God; these are the people whose integrity remains intact because God owns them; and

3. faithful to the covenant till the end (tapat) - at the end of the day, it all redounds to this: Do we really love the Lord?  Then we shall remain faithful to him and love others, especially the poor, because it is God who loves us first.

These people shall climb the mountain of Lord.  They will receive the crown of everlasting life in heaven.