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 Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ 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 Jesus 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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
REFLECTION: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”
Because of love, we have salvation. God's salvation is meant for everyone. God's grace was to go beyond the Jewish people. It was for the whole world.
The Canaanite woman, filled with love for her child, knew of Jesus and knew He could free her daughter from the grip of evil. She is the example of all of us with unconditional trust who look to Jesus in our most trying moments.
How many times do we find ourselves in bad circumstances? How do we respond to Jesus during these times? Her faith is being tested when Jesus does not answer her. The more Jesus seems to be unwilling, the more she insisted, to the point that after Jesus treated her harshly, she could either give up and leave Him or she could persist. She stood meekly before God because of her affliction and waited for God's will and timing.
Ah, persevering prayer! God wills only our good and we appeal not to God's justice but to His mercy. Let importunity be part of our prayer life!!
Come acknowledge the power of God
God Bless You
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