Well here we are at the middle of August, with just two weeks to go before the schools reopen after the long COVID 19 closure. When you stop to think about it time just seems to be passing by as it doesn’t seem nearly 5 months since the lockdown began. We also spare a thought for all the teachers out there who will go back into the schools in the days ahead to prepare for the reopening of the schools.
Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is all about the Canaanite woman whose daughter was being tormented by a devil, but when you read the story we realize it is really about the great faith that she has and it was that faith in Jesus that cured her daughter even though she had to be persistent in dealing with the Lord. The woman in today’s Gospel story is not satisfied with just tears though. Her daughter “is tormented by a demon.” Parents among us know what that might feel like and how fiercely we would spring into action if a “cure” was before us for our own sick child. She cries out and asks Jesus for help … and perseveres even when the disciples try to send her away and Jesus Himself rebuffs her! Jesus relents because great is her faith.
In the same story we see much about ourselves and our own faith. Over a number of years I have been involved with many people who have been praying for this or that or for or a member of their families and very often they have said to me that the prayers have not been heard let alone answered. I have always told them to hang in there to persist and not give up in the prayers because they are always heard and this has been the case with so many people throughout history. In the same way as the Canaanite woman pestered Jesus we should never give up though we mightn’t have our requests granted when WE want them they will be granted when we really need the things that we are praying for. A friend of mine is constantly praying for her son and thankfully her prayers are being answered but sometimes as happens in all families the road can be a bit rocky along the way but we have to keep on going. The message of today’s readings is all about FAITH life can be a bit of a pickle with good and bad things within it, but a life lived with faith will see all the various obstacles being removed. Would our faith be as persistent as the faith of the woman in this Sundays Gospel? Only you can answer that one and I hope that your faith is persistent like the Canaanite woman whose daughter Jesus Cured because faith moves mountains !!
Fullerton T 