A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (15:21-28)
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
REFLECTION: Today’s gospel should challenge us to question the level of our faith. The woman in the gospel has total faith that Jesus is the only one who could heal her daughter from the torment of a demon. Even though Jesus’ message was not intended for her kind, her great persistence did not allow the disciples’ irritation, or Jesus’ harsh remarks, to put her off. She was not going to let all that get in her way.
In our life, we will face many hardships and they will weaken our faith. But the woman in today’s gospel should reminded us to keep the faith, to keep on praying because God is listening and waiting for the perfect time to bestow on us the blessings that we are asking for.
God’s salvation plan is unlimited. Through the confession of sins and belief in the saving work of God’s son, Jesus Christ, all men and women, are worthy and deserving to receive His gift of salvation.
I think that many of you, like myself, at one time or another in our lives, may have come across the thought of not worthy of His blessing. It would be easier to give up and turn away than to decern, and persist, through prayer. As we live out our faith through trials and testing, our faith grows into the “Great Faith” which Jesus commends – a Great Faith which invites us to come to Him; empowers us to seek Him every day, in every situation; and enables us to trust Him completely.
The faith and persistent by the woman in today’s Gospel, and that of St. Monica for the conversion of her son, St. Augustine, should lead us to try to imitate their prayer life and persistent faith, because God’s salvation plan is unlimited, and for all.
ACTION FOR THE DAY: How far can you hold on to, and trust your faith? Though today’s Gospel message is for us as well, I challenge you to take this message to the world, to whoever is seeking mercy, so they will believe. And if there is resistance and refusal, just continue to pray for them.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
