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Manila Bulletin

Opinion

Great is your faith!

Opinion

Great is your faith!

By Manila Bulletin

REFLECTIONS TODAY

The cold-shoulder treatment from Jesus in this reading is completely unexpected. The loving and compassionate Jesus we have known ignores the Canaanite woman! But she is unshakable. She prays persistently, confident that she will be heard. This woman is a foreigner, holding different beliefs and customs. Yet she comes to Jesus, totally believing that he can help her. While different, the Canaanite woman has one very special connection to Jesus: her humanity and faith. She humbles herself down and places her daughter’s fate in Jesus’ hands alone.

At that point, when she forgets her pride and opens herself up entirely to Jesus, she receives his mercy. Sometimes pride and exclusivity get in the way of our prayer. Humility, openness, and persistent faith are keys to a profound encounter with Jesus whose graces are available to everyone.

Gospel • 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.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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REFLECTIONS 365 Days with the Lord

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