T he woman needs to pray unceasingly, just as the woman appealing to the unjust judge (Luke 18), but in this case it is not that Jesus is refusing or even that He changes His mind: in the heat of her desire and the insistence of her prayer, the woman comes to see the depth of her need and her faith, engages her courage and her wit, and grows as a result of the interaction.

Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome

Numbers 13:1-2, 25–14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35

Psalm 106:6-7ab, 13-14, 21-22, 23

M atthew 15: 21-28  And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon . (22) And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." (23) But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." (24) He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ." (25) But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." (26) And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." (27) She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." (28) Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. 

* Meditation by Chas Kestermeier, S.J.

As humans we get accustomed to things, make them habits or relegate them to the ordinary, basically forgetting them unless something goes wrong.  This process extends to what we see and smell as well as to such activities as walking, eating, and driving --- not to mention the way that we think. 

And we also have our little temporary preferences and "needs" that we can forget two weeks later, putting them behind us as unimportant.  They can disappear from our lives, even if these "needs" can seem temporarily urgent or even essential to our well-being.

In the Gospel passage the Lord seems to be addressing just that proclivity in the devious way that good teachers do.  He deals lovingly with the woman in today's gospel, teaching her with what seems at first to be cruel disregard.  Consider that Jesus has left Israel to go to a specifically pagan area, He does this one remembered thing, and then He returns to Israel : is this conversation with the woman really a refusal on His part?  I don't think so.

The woman needs to pray unceasingly, just as the woman appealing to the unjust judge (Luke 18), but in this case it is not that Jesus is refusing or even that He changes His mind: in the heat of her desire and the insistence of her prayer, the woman comes to see the depth of her need and her faith, engages her courage and her wit, and grows as a result of the interaction.  Her daughter may be healed in body, but she herself is graced with a greater faith and love.

As for ourselves, do we pray unceasingly?  Do we learn to ask for what it is that we really desire, not taking Jesus for granted and not just asking for a passing fancy of our hearts?  How serious are we about our lives as we approach the Lord?

Supplementary Reading

Everyday Heroes by  Robert H. Schuller

Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. – Psalm 125:4

W hen my oldest grandson, Jason, was eleven years old, he came into my office and noticed a framed picture of me propped against the wall. "That's a nice picture of you, Grandpa," he noted. "Why isn't it hanging on the wall?"

"Because," I responded, "it was given to me and I haven't decided where to hang it yet."

"I know where you could hang it," he offered, "…in my bedroom. Because Grandpa, you're my hero."

We all need heroes. Heroes are all around us. They're in our classrooms, doctor's offices, and hospital corridors. They patrol our streets, fight fires, and secure our borders. They serve, protect, preserve…so we can continue to enjoy the many freedoms we often take for granted.

Stop for a minute and remember the heroes who've been part of your life. Thank God for them. Then aspire to be one!

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Who are the heroes that have been part of your life? Thank God for them. Then aspire to be one!

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• 08/06/2009 02:54 - Aug 10, 2009 - Monday Meditation (Is it REAP and SOW?)
• 08/06/2009 02:05 - Aug 9, 2009 - Sunday Meditation (Bread - Blessed and Broken for Others)
• 08/06/2009 02:00 - Aug 8, 2009C - Saturday Meditation (In Our Emptiness, We will have MORE Room for HIM!)
• 08/06/2009 01:57 - Aug 7, 2009 - Friday Meditation (Life Gives You What You Expect)
• 08/04/2009 02:49 - Aug 6, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Are you Spiritually Awake?)

• 07/31/2009 22:17 - Aug 4, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation (Cleans Hands - Clean Hearts!)
• 07/31/2009 22:12 - Aug 3, 2009 - Monday Meditation (Power of Right Choices)
• 07/31/2009 21:47 - July 31, 2009 - Friday Meditation (Our Dreams in His Hands!)
• 07/31/2009 15:05 - Aug 2, 2009 - Sunday Meditation (Who Do We Hunger For?)
• 07/29/2009 03:10 - Aug 1, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (Integrity - Still Around?)