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Olivia M. Bannan

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, AUGUST 20, 2023



Gospel

"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


"Lord, help me" was the only prayer I could say when I realized that I could not change a situation nor cure a loved one. We have all heard the story of the Canaanite woman who through her perseverance and determined confidence in the power of Jesus, wins the gift of freedom for her child.


Perhaps our prayers are concentrated more on the timeliness of the response to her prayers. We see her interaction with Jesus and in a few minutes, Jesus heals her daughter. And many times I am trapped in this "time warp" literally praying for immediate gratification. Is it that I don't want to suffer, change my lifestyle, or do I feel entitled to have Jesus hear me out, right now?


A request for help happens and we think that is all that is needed. But again some problems require persistence in our prayers and efforts. We have the inciteful repartee of Jesus with the mother. Through her example we learn to pray with piety, with humility we worship and pay Him homage.


Who am I, a sinner, to expect God to hear my requests? I trust Him, believe Him and love His Word. His house is a house of prayer for all peoples. And He hears every single prayer and knows what is needed. We ask for pardon and graces for ourselves and our loved ones. While we wait for God to answer our prayers, offer up this trial we are going through for our intentions and desires always remembering He knows everything about us and we seek that His Will be done for our good and for those whom we pray for.






God Bless You


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