Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 7, 24-30
Jesus went to the district of Tyre.
He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,
but he could not escape notice.
Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.
She came and fell at his feet.
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,
and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
He said to her, “Let the children be fed first.
For it is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She replied and said to him,
“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”
Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go.
The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed
and the demon gone.
A mother’s faith
1. He could not remain unseen. How beautiful it is to see this human aspect of Jesus, He wanted to be alone, to rest. This is something that you and I also need, we want to be alone, to restore our energy… But in the face of need, people desperately seek for help. And so, the divine in Jesus takes over, because He responds with generosity. He gives up his time to rest and recharge, in order to heal and relieve. There are times when you also have to give of your time to heal and soothe others in need. This is part of our Christian life; we are called to heal and relieve, even giving up our rest. Give of the “divine” that is in you, give your look, your embrace, your tenderness, your words, your ears. Give that which only you can give, the simple yet profound, which can heal in others even something complex and serious.
2. Fell at his feet. The woman in the Gospel is not religious, but when she sees her child so terribly ill, she seeks Jesus for help. She is capable of prostrating herself out of love for her daughter. How many moms and dads are capable of doing everything they can, and even humiliating themselves, to see their children well. Yes, think of your mom or your dad, who even searched for a second job so that you might study and be well. Think of those dads and moms who live in a hospital with their sick children – they would give their lives for their child!
3. Faith. The key is to plead and ask God for grace and the precise moment. Do not break down, rather ask again and again. The woman does not give up and fights for her request. Be aware of the fact that God can reach where one can’t. Pray and don’t get tired of praying. God never gets tired of listening to you. It is knowing and trusting that God makes all things new.
Never forget that something good is on the way! God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
