Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
Faith saves
1) A woman: She is the image of a woman who is not religious; she is not a pure Jew, but she is a desperate woman because she is losing her child; the love of her life. She goes to Jesus out of desperation and not because of religious compliance. She represents that person who is not involved in religion, but turns to God in her prayer the best way she can in her desperation. She is loosing what gives meaning to her life: her daughter. Maybe she doesn’t knows how to pray the Rosary or the parts of the mass, but she goes in search of God to help her with her situation. Despair leads us to look for Jesus. Pain, suffering, and anguish are a way of finding God. Today, if you are going through a painful moment, reach out to Him. Look for Him with your own words; cling to Him any way you can… As it turns out, in a desperate search there is no protocol or bureaucracy, there is only a need for relief. Seek out God !
2) He said nothing: How frustrating for this woman that Jesus does not say anything to her. How many times have you and I had a moment when it seems God does not respond to anything? But deep down, Jesus knows what will happen to your story. His silence can be traumatic. It happens to you, to me, and to everyone … today we ask Jesus how to learn to cope with His silence; to be patient; to know that we are in His thoughts and when it is the right time, He will act. May I be silent to listen to Him… and listen to Him even in His silence.
3) Faith: The answer was found in faith. Her confidence and humility lead to this great miracle of Jesus. Faith is a process because you have to ask for it. Faith is trusting in the divine when all my strength runs out. We are weak, but He is strong.
I start to think about the people who take care of their loved ones in a hospital and have to spend the whole night standing up or sitting… and paying attention to their slightest need. It is that faith that someone will recover, that gives that person, the caretaker, strength. I think of the faith of so many moms and dads who fight day by day to give the best to their children and their entire family. I think of that faith of so many who seek to give the best in this life. Thank you for your faith. Thank you for listening to me; thank you for seeking God; thank you for living this life, and thank you for trying hard every day. Thank you for repenting when you make a mistake and asking for forgiveness. Thank you for taking a few minutes with God; thank you for thinking positively , even if you don’t feel like it. Thank you for seeking to be happy. Your faith helps you in all this.
God bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Remember, Heaven is our goal !
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