Daily Reflection for Wednesday, August 03 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends, and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080322.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-7
Responsorial: Jeremiah 31: 10, 11-12AB, 13
Gospel: Matthew 15: 21-28
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“She said, ‘Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.’ “Then Jesus said in reply, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’” Matthew 15: 27-28
I don’t have to imagine how the Canaanite mother felt in today’s gospel because I have prayed with the same desperation and anguish for my children. What followed in this account also rings true for some of my experiences in prayer. We both made our requests known and then there was silence or apparent inaction. Next, we both continued to cry out for help with persistence. What came after the silence and the persistence was something that I have not experienced: a direct conversation with Jesus.
In the conversation we are blessed with today, Jesus provides insight as to why prayers are not answered right away. First, Jesus tells her that this was not the appropriate time for her request. He said that he came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel and that it was not right to give the food for the children (house of Israel) to the dogs (pagans). It makes sense to me that prayers are not answered in our time frame, perhaps either because it is not the appropriate time or because there are other obstacles we don’t understand.
Despite the obstacles she encountered, the woman demonstrated perseverance and faith in action and word. She demonstrated reverence and respect for Jesus, by giving Him homage. With an increase in fervor and expectation, she knelt before Jesus and said, “Please Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their master.”
Her faith led her to believe that if Jesus wanted this to happen, even the scraps or leftovers of His power apportioned for the Jewish people, would heal her daughter. This woman’s demonstration of persistence and faith in the power of Jesus led to her daughter’s healing and most likely, a deeper appreciation of God’s almighty power!
When prayers seem unanswered, Jesus encourages us to pray with persistence and fervor and with a faith that trusts in God’s goodness and timing.
Blessings for the journey!
Paula Paul