WORD ALIVE
There’s an old saying which goes, “If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.”
“Try and try again,” that’s what the Canaanite woman did in the gospel episode in this 20th Sunday. She kept on pestering the Lord to the point of vexation to cure her possessed daughter.
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Jesus tried to ignore her, then rebuffed her, finally insulted her by insinuating that she was a housedog. “It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the housedogs” (Mt 15,16).
She was undaunted. Instead, she turned the table around by making a smart repartee, which stunned Jesus, “Ah yes, sir; but even housedogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master's table.”
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Jesus was so astounded by the woman's bold reply that he exclaimed, “Woman, great is your faith. Let your wish be granted.”
The lesson is clear. We should not get discouraged in our prayers. We should be “cheeky” like that woman; in local parlance, “magpakapal ng mukha” and, like that Canaanite woman, our perseverance will be rewarded.
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Some say, however, that they keep praying but their prayers fall on deaf ears. We should remember that petition begins with the risk of asking or entrusting ourselves to silence.
A young man related how he was accused of child molestation with rape of a 16-year old girl. He struggled to defend himself in court even though he had no lawyer for lack of funds. The case lasted for seven years. All the while he kept praying to God, particularly St. Jude Thaddeus, called the Saint of the Impossible.
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When the decision came out, the verdict was a stunning acquittal. The poor man cried with joy. When he came to our weekly devotion to St. Jude at Shrine of Jesus Divine Word in Christ the King Seminary compound, he said, “Father, I attribute everything to God and St. Jude. My persevering prayers paid off. That’s what I tell others: ‘Never, never give up praying.’”
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Another example is that our prayer may not be answered because God has other plans. This is illustrated in the life of Louis Martin, a French man. He wanted very much to become a priest, however, he was turned down by the religious superior because of poor health. He abandoned his ambition, worked, and eventually got married to Zelie Guerin.
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The couple bore nine children (at that time, there was no family planning yet!) and four of the girls entered the Carmelite Convent. One of them became outstanding in prayers, penance and humility, and she eventually became a saint, that is, St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
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Had Louis become a priest, we would not have a Millenium Saint and Universal Patroness of the Church Missions today.
“When God closes a window, he opens another one.”
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As a spiritual writer puts it: “Prayer is the strength of everyone and the weakness of God. The more we pray, the stronger we become and God becomes weaker — and he gives in to our petition.”
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Ask yourself: Is my faith in God persevering, even though my prayers seemed ineffective? Or, do I get discouraged and give up?
About discrimination, Jesus showed clearly that he was against it when he healed the non-Jewish Canaanite. Do we look down on people because of different religious beliefs, the color of their skin or low social status?
Check your attitude and deeds if they match Jesus’ command and teachings.
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Laugh with god. A small boy is praying beside his mother in church: “Lord, bigyan mo ako ng cheeseburger, French fries, apple pie, strawberry shake, diet coke…”
The priest passing by was peeved and said: “Iho, nanalangin ka ba o nag-oorder sa Diyos?” (Son, are you praying or ordering God?).
Note: When we pray, we don’t order God. As the saying goes: “Man proposes; God disposes.”
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Support seminarians. Please help our seminarians enrolling for the new school year. Remember how important seminarians are in the church. Without them we cannot have priests, bishops and popes simply because they all start as seminarians.
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Moreover, we cannot have ordained ministers to dispense the sacraments like baptism, confession, Holy Mass as well as missionaries to evangelize peoples here and abroad who have not known Christ.
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For inquiry, e-mail me at: [email protected]