Agents of Faith, Mercy and Justice: Making Room for Everyone
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 16, 2026
“Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest.” We can see the Lord loves justice but, sadly, those of us with power are often slow to recognise the depths of God’s justice (the deeper meaning of Justice). And those of us who are poor, feel excluded or are treated harshly, can easily lose hope as we see the dishonest people growing wealthier and living comfortably…
The readings clearly demonstrate to us, that the issue of justice is what will determine whether we enter Heaven or not: it is less to do with our religious affiliation or name of our church. All people are invited, and those who act justly will be welcomed.
The words here in the First Reading about the requirements to be welcomed almost sound like you have to be in my “tribe”: “Foreigners who …love his name and be his servants …who observe the Sabbath, …and cling to my covenant…”
But they are simply a reflection of the 10 commandments which are wise invitations to live a life that provides justice for others, and in a way that makes my community peaceful: it’s all about respectful relationships. And St Paul complements God’s teachings by explicitly identifying God’s mercy, which never fails. And the importance of our mercy for others.
To our younger people: even if society overlooks you, or neglects you, believe in the fact that you were created by God and are precious to Him. The question is not whether your life has a purpose, but whether you are willing to search for it by developing skills and using the talents God has given you. St Paul insists that God’s gifts and call cannot be cancelled.
Young people are a gift because they point out our errors! They see things as black and white, whereas older people, juggling the many challenges we face, have many shades of “grey”. We must value their input and be open to their challenge to return to more correct ways.
Let us also remember that Heaven, from the words of the Our Father, begins here in earth! While poorer people lack many comforts and necessities, they usually have a greater sense of love and support from their family and community members. This inter-dependence is a taste of Heaven. Although many wealthy people are generous and also have a taste of Heaven, many live lonely lives; in fear of losing their financial security and suspicious of new “friends”.
Those of us who employ people have a special need to take care: whether we employ house-helpers, gardeners, etc. we must ensure they can live a respectable life. To that end, I share this humorous story from Pope St John XXIII (1960’s).
As he walked around the Vatican Gardens one day, a gardener had the courage to come and ask if he could speak. Pope John said “yes”. The man then explained that their low salaries made it difficult to care for their families and educate their children: could their salaries be increased?
So, Pope John called the Cardinal for a meeting and shared the low-salary concerns. The Cardinal agreed with the Pope and said that they will budget for it next year, because the budget is already set for this year and money is tight. Pope John sympathised with the Cardinal but, after a short pause, with a smile on his face, said: “I have an idea… if we reduce the bonus that all the Cardinal’s receive each year, we can redirect it to the gardeners.” The Cardinal looked shocked and replied: “Holy Father, don’t worry, we will find the money from somewhere.”
This reminds us that justice, like charity, always begins at home. How often did we as children, or do we still?, argue over whose turn it is to do the house cleaning? How often did we say, “it’s not fair!” The surprising dialogue between Jesus and the woman in the Gospel, also looks “unfair”. But it was the custom for much banter at that time, as well as a way for Jesus to make an important point: all are welcome at the table of the Lord, in the Kingdome of Heaven.
By arguing, respectfully, we can learn from each other: learn our rights, but also learn about our obligations to each other. Justice is the result of mutual giving and receiving.
If each of us was taken to court for the way we treat our neighbour or employee, how would you plead? Guilty or not guilty? The Catholic church has some very clear teachings on employment which we should remind ourselves on from time to time. In summary, and for us to have a happy life, we can say that the readings, today, call us to the following actions:
Each of us must be Agents of justice: by small acts of honesty, solidarity and service.
We must have Resilience: to see rejection as stepping stones to purify our intentions/ demands
We are called to be in solidarity: to see and welcome others who feel excluded, just like God.
And, finally, to be Agents of Hope: to remind others that God’s mercy is bigger than their struggles; that their future is not defined by poverty or exclusion but by God’s personal call.
By Gerard Conlan, OMI