ALL ARE CHILDREN OF GOD! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Wednesday, 9^th August 2017.

Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Martyr

Num 13: 1-2, 25 – 14: 1, 26-29, 34-35;

Ps 106: 6-7, 13-14, 21-23 (R) 4;

Mt 15: 21-28

ALL ARE CHILDREN OF GOD!

In the Gospel, Jesus is approached by a Greek, Syro-phoenician woman, who sought help from Jesus for her daughter who had a demon in her. Matthew, the evangelist tries to emphasize the increasingly harsh tone of Jesus’ responses. The disciples however are softer and plead to Jesus: ‘Give her what she wants.’ Jesus instead becomes more severe, and says: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel”. Presenting himself as a shepherd of Israel, Jesus declares that he intends to fulfill the prophecies and the woman understands. She knows that she is not of the chosen people. However, bowing down to Jesus and she begs: “Lord, help me!” In response she receives an insult: “It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the house-dogs.” “Dog” was the cruelest insult, nickname with which the Jews called the pagans (Mt 7:6, Rev 22:15, Phil 3:2). On the lips of Jesus this expression surprises, especially if one takes into account the fact that the Canaanite woman turned to him with great respect. Three times she called him “Lord”.

The key to understanding this interaction is to look at the final result. We must look at how this woman responded to Jesus and how the conversation ended. Jesus gives this woman a wonderful opportunity to manifest her deep faith for all to see. The woman did and thus we are able to witness the manifestation of her faith and humility. The woman was not offended to be called a dog. She however replies Jesus, saying she is not a street dog, but rather a dog of the house. She did not feel she was an outcast. She claimed to be a faithful creature, a pet dog, who was faithful and who loved its master. This manifestation of her blind faith in Jesus, granted her the miracle which Jesus wanted to give her. The Canaanite woman is singled out as a model of the true believer. She knows she does not deserve anything, believes that only by the word of Christ she can freely arrive to salvation. She implores and receives it as a gift.

Are we faithful children of our heavenly father? Are we able to say like the woman in the Gospel, we are a faithful to God as a dog to its master? If not, Let us learn from the encounter of Jesus and the Woman and become true children of God. For Paul declares: “In Christ Jesus, all of you are sons and daughters of God through faith…there is no longer any difference between Jew or Greek.., or between man and woman; but all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26-29).

Prayer: Lord, I am unworthy. Help me to see that I do not deserve Your grace in my life. But in that humble truth, may I also recognize Your abundance of mercy and never fear to call upon You for mercy. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.