Gospel MT 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 Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus’ 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 Jesus 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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
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 Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus’ 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 Jesus 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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
When I was close to graduating high school I remember making an appointment to see my guidance counselor to inquire about college; I entered her office and noticed all the degrees and awards hung up on her office walls, we both sat down and she opened my student record and looked at my transcript and pretty much told me that I should consider another path besides college. My brothers and sisters in Christ, sometimes in life the people that we turn to for help, become those who will discourage us the most. However, there is one Person who will never let us down JESUS the CHRIST! In today’s Gospel it may seem from a novice’s perspective that our Lord is rejecting the Canaanite woman, but in reality the Lord knows her heart and in fact awakening the faith that lies within. Our Lord challenges her (and us) to never give up in our petitions to Him! Even when we get discouraged and begin to doubt that our Lord hears our prayers, we must persevere in petition and prayer! We must learn which battles in life are worth fighting and which are a waste of our spiritual energy. Brothers and sisters, do you choose your battles wisely and persist in prayer? What in your life is worth fighting for? For the Canaanite women, it was for love of her daughter that her faith was increased. Let us pray that we too may love one another to the point that we are willing to face all challenges in order to hear our Lord say, “Great is your Faith!” Blessings Fr. Steven
Cuando estaba cerca de graduarme de la preparatoria recuerdo haber hecho una cita para ver a mi consejera para preguntar acerca de la universidad. Entré en su oficina y vi todos sus diplomas y premios colgados en las paredes de la oficina, los dos nos sentamos y ella abrió mi expediente académico y prácticamente me dijo que debería considerar otra ruta, en vez de la universidad. Mis hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, a veces en la vida, las personas a las que acudimos en busca de ayuda se convierten en los que más nos desalientan. Sin embargo, hay una Persona que nunca nos defrauda, JESUS el CRISTO! En el Evangelio de hoy puede parecer, desde la perspectiva de un novato, que nuestro Señor está rechazando a la mujer Cananea, pero en realidad el Señor conoce su corazón y de hecho despierta la fe que se encuentra dentro. Nuestro Señor la desafía (y a nosotros) a nunca darse por vencida en sus peticiones a Él! Incluso cuando nos desanimamos y comenzamos a dudar de que el Señor escucha nuestras oraciones, debemos perseverar en la petición y en la oración! Debemos de aprender cuales son las batallas en la vida que valen la pena luchar y cuales son una pérdida de nuestra energía espiritual. Hermanos y hermanas, ¿eligen sus batallas sabiamente y perseveran en la oración? ¿Por cuales cosas en su vida vale luchar? Para la mujer Cananea, era por amor a su hija que su fe se incrementó. Oremos para que también nosotros nos amemos unos a otros hasta el punto de que estamos dispuestos a enfrentar todos los retos con el fin de escuchar a nuestro Señor decir: "¡Grande es tu fe!" Bendiciones. Fr. Steven
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