Mark 7:24-30

Reflection

Jesus moves on to another region and doesn’t wish for others to know, yet a Greek woman finds him and asks him to heal her possessed daughter. Jesus tells her it isn’t right to feed dogs the children’s bread, but in reply, she says that even dogs get scraps from the children. Because of this, Jesus casts the demon from her daughter.

In the Bible, “dogs” was usually a derogatory term for Gentiles. Jesus is telling the woman that the Jews are first entitled to his gospel message, not the Gentiles. Yet because of her faith and humility in accepting that fact, Jesus grants her request. Obviously, today all are invited and wanted – the Gospel is for everyone.

But we can still learn from the Greek woman lessons of humility and faith. She persevered and believed Jesus could heal her daughter. We too can have faith in God when we go through difficult times. We can all practice approaching the Lord with humility and trust. Let him provide for you in his perfect way. We don’t know best, although many times we think we do, so pray for an increase in humility and acceptance of God’s plan for you.

Saint of the Day

St. Catherine de Ricci: 1522 – 1590

“We must aim more and more at the accomplishment of the divine will: not only desiring nothing special to happen to us, bad or even good, in this wretched life, and thus keeping ourselves always at God’s disposal, with heart and soul at peace; but also believing with a firm faith that Almighty God loves us more than we love ourselves, and takes more care of us than we could take care of ourselves.” Letter by St. Catherine to a fellow nun