Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Jeremiah 31.1-7

At that time, says the Lord,
I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel,
and they shall be my people.
The Lord says,
“The people who escaped the sword
found favor in the desert;

Israel comes forward to rest,
and the Lord appeared to him from afar, saying,
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.
Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
O virgin Israel,
you shall again be adorned with your tambourines,
and go out in the dances of the merrymakers.
You shall again plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters shall plant and enjoy its fruit.
For there shall be a day,
when the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim shall cry,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion
to the Lord our God.’”

For the Lord says,
“Sing with gladness for Jacob,
and shout for the head of the nations:
proclaim praise, and say,
‘O Lord, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.’”

Responsorial – Jeremiah 31.10, 11-12ab, 13 Resp. 10d

R. The Lord will keep us, as a shepherd does his flock.

Hear the word of the Lord, you nations,
and declare it on the far off islands, and say,
“He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.

R. The Lord will keep us, as a shepherd does his flock.

For the Lord will ransom Jacob,
and redeem him from the hand of him who was stronger.
They shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
and shall flow to the goodness of the Lord.

R. The Lord will keep us, as a shepherd does his flock.

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old together;
for I will turn their mourning into joy,
and will comfort them, and make them rejoice after their sorrows.

R. The Lord will keep us, as a shepherd does his flock.

Gospel – Matthew 15.21-28

The Jesus withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Behold, a Canaanite woman of that district
came and cried, saying,
“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”

But he answered her not a word.
His disciples came and begged him, saying,
“Send her away; for she cries after us.”
But he answered,
“I was not sent to anyone
but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But she came and worshiped him, saying,
“Lord, help me.”
But he answered,
“It is not appropriate
to take the children’s bread
and throw it to the dogs.”
But she said, “Yes, Lord,
but even the dogs eat the crumbs
which fall from their masters’ table.”

Then Jesus answered her,
“Woman, great is your faith!
Be it done for you just as you desire.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.