Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Jeremiah 31:1-7; Matthew 15:21-28)
A doctor was explaining his stressful situation. He said that he was working too hard, but not
for the money. He continued that he has
more than enough money with his debts mostly paid. He then gave the reason for his intense
workload. There is a great need for practitioners
in his field. He concluded that he would
troop on another six more years before he cuts back. In today’s gospel Jesus finds himself in a
similar situation.
Jesus has been busy attending to the thousands of followers
who come seeking healing. To get away
from the crowds he crosses into the Canaanite territory of Tyre and Sidon. But his fame has preceded him there. A Canaanite woman steps forward seeking his
help in expelling the demon possessing her daughter. Jesus tries to dispatch
her quickly saying that he came to proclaim God’s Kingdom to Jews. But she not only persists in begging Jesus;
she also expresses faith in him as Lord.
Knowing that the Kingdom will eventually be extended to all the nations,
Jesus grants her request.
Sometimes it seems that our requests to the Lord for
assistance are rebuffed. We do not get
what we want when we want it. This
should be no reason to forsake seeking God’s help. Like the Canaanite woman, we must persist in
our appeal and in praising God. God will
not fail to answer our prayers.
