“O woman, great is your faith!
Matthew 15:28
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
Reflection
Jesus goes to a Gentile region where a Canaanite woman asks him to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon. He ignores her, and his disciples ask him to send her away. She continues to plead with him, and because of her faith, he does as she asks.
This Gospel reveals not only that persistent faith can be rewarded, but intercessory prayer works. The woman continually calls out to Christ, begging him, praying to him, to help her daughter. Even when she faces denial, she doesn’t give up. Not only is her persistence rewarded, but we see that her prayer helped another person, her own daughter.
We never know how or when Christ is going to use our prayers for others. An answer might not be given for years or in any way you thought it would come about, but that doesn’t mean our Lord is using our prayers for nothing. Demonstrating faith in God and persevering, even in the supposed face of opposition, only strengthens our own faith and leads us to greater trust in Christ.
Saint of the Day
St. Oswald: died AD 642
| “Let us now kneel down, and jointly pray to the Omnipotent, and only true God, that he would mercifully defend us from our proud enemy; for he knows that we fight in a just war in defence of our lives and country.” St. Oswald |
The Healing Word 