“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” – Matthew 15:28

       A woman had a son who was far from the Lord. He was a womanizer and lived an immoral life that left his mother distressed. But instead of being discouraged and giving up on her son, she stayed close to him as she fasted and prayed.

       One night, he told her that he was going to say goodbye to a friend. Instead, he set sail to a faraway city. Discouraged, she followed him. When she arrived there, he had already gone, but she was determined to find him. In the next town, her wayward son met a bishop, with whom she also begged for prayers for her son. His mother continued to pray as the priest taught him the faith.

       At Easter, Augustine was baptized into Christianity after 17 years of persistent prayers from his mother. Thank God for St. Monica’s unrelenting faith! St. Augustine became a doctor of the Church and one of the greatest saints that ever lived.

       Are you in a similar situation? Take courage! Like the woman in today’s Gospel and the example of St. Monica, you can cry out to God and plead with Him, “Lord, help me!” Healing may happen in an instant, but it will happen. Keep praying because your miracle is on the way. Marjorie Ann Duterte (marjorie.travels@gmail.com)

Lord, only say Your word and it will be done.

“I have bought you because of My love for you.” This is the true sense of the word “redeem.” A slave’s freedom can be bought if they pay back the master. It is from this that Paul’s idea of us having been “bought and paid for” by Jesus comes from.

Jeremiah 31:1-7

1 At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2 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, 3 the Lord appears to him from afar: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. 4 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. 5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits. 6 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.” 7 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.

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12, 13

R: The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say: He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd his flock. (R) 11 The Lord shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror. 12 Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the Lord’s blessings. (R) 13 Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console and gladden them after their sorrows. (R)

The Canaanite woman’s faith is extraordinary. She has no right to approach Jesus, let alone request anything from Him. However, Jesus welcomes her and then grants her request. The Gospel is truly meant for everyone and God is not above denying the laws of nature and the religious and cultural laws of the day in order to get this message across. Let us be ready to listen to the new things that the Spirit will teach us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

Matthew 15:21-28

21 At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 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.” 23 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.” 24 He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” 28 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.

think: Let us be ready to listen to the new things that the Spirit will teach us.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Maccabees  5-6  

COMPASSIONATE LOVE

The story of the Canaanite woman portrays a character of confidence. Confidence enables us to see, to follow what is happening in our lives and how God guides and leads everything towards good. In this spirit of confidence, we do not allow ourselves to be shaken by difficulties.

    This woman experienced lots of sufferings. Her daughter was tormented by a demon. When someone we love is in a painful situation, we are hurt, too. When someone we love dies, a part of us dies, too. When she made an attempt to see Jesus, the disciples sent her away. She experienced a deep sense of rejection. But her love for her daughter and deep faith in God gave her the power to humbly beg for help. She has confidence that God will never abandon her. She knows that God’s love is more powerful than her sorrows. This is her faith.

       In this experience of brokenness, the woman sees hope. She never allows the pain and suffering to destroy her, for she believes that there is a God who will never stop loving her. She knows that God goes with her, takes care of her, and frees her from all her fears. She believes that God is a compassionate God. Her humble request enters into the depths of the heart of Jesus. He clearly understands what takes place in the heart of the woman. He sees Himself in the woman. Their hearts are united because both hearts are compassionate. Jesus sees her deep faith in God.

       Henry Nouwen says, “Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears...”

       Amidst the sufferings in our lives, we open our hearts to Jesus’ love. He touches our aching hearts, embraces our weeping souls, and empowers and strengthens us when we are in despair. This is also our calling — to be compassionate like Jesus. Fr. Alex Balatbat

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How would a loving, compassionate God look upon you? Do you have faith in Jesus? How do you express your faith in Him?

Jesus, allow me to walk with You, to share my life with You, and to see myself as Your companion. Help me to know God as You know Him. Amen.