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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider O woman, great is your faith!

O woman, great is your faith!

Published Aug 5, 2026 12:05 am  |  Updated Aug 4, 2026 05:10 pm
REFLECTIONS TODAY
When they were about to enter Canaan after their wanderings in the desert for 40 years, Moses warned the Israelites against learning to imitate the abominations of the people there: offering their children as sacrifice to their gods, practicing divinations and sorceries, seeking oracles from the dead, and worshipping idols (Dt 18:9-14).
Like the Moabite women, the Canaanite women could entice the Israelites into idol worship and sexual immorality. In later times, the Jews would refer to pagan Canaanites as “dogs” (kunaria), as inferred in Jesus’ response to the Canaanite woman’s pleading. In the biblical tradition, “dogs” refer to violent adversaries (Phil 3:2), idolators, the immoral, and the wicked (Rv 22:15).
In contrast, the people of Israel are children of the household (of God). The Canaanite woman is not discouraged by Jesus’ initial rebuff. She accepts that she and her daughter have no claim on God and his messenger. In her heart, she believes that the God of Israel is the true God, in contrast to her people’s divinities who are powerless to help her.
She waits for the “scraps” of the bread that God, through Jesus, offers to the Jews. Her humility and her faith/confidence move Jesus to grant her request. In and through her, Jesus raises the pagans and outsiders to status of God’s children.
First Reading • Jer 31:1-7
At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord: The people that escaped the sword have found favor in the desert. As Israel comes forward to be given his rest, the Lord appears to him from afar: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits. Yes, a day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim: “Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the Lord, our God.” For thus says the Lord: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.
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 2026,” 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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