Contributor
God’s Love for All
The Gospel of Matthew 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.
Reflection
The Gospel this Sunday speaks of God’s love and Salvation which Jesus offers to everyone.
In the Gospel, the Canaanite woman, though considered as an outsider being a non-Jew, begs Jesus to free her daughter from the demons.
Jesus rebuked her but her persistence and more importantly her faith in what Jesus could do lead her daughter to freedom.
We too are challenged by this Sunday’s Gospel narrative. Oftentimes we are blinded by many things hindering us to trust in God’s unconditional love.
God is constantly in our midst offering his friendship.
Let us break our own un-freedoms and in faith embrace God’s love for us. Let us embrace the kind of faith of the Canaanite woman in the Gospel because in that way, we will enjoy God’s Kingdom here on Earth.
Have faith, God’s love is here. Just believe.
Ave Maria!
