Daily Gospel Reflection for August 3, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today’s Gospel reading reveals two very important insights, the first being the unfathomable mercy of God followed by the encouragement to be bold and persistent in prayer.

We meet a woman (who’s also pagan, so, two big strikes against her in that culture!) who has summoned the courage to seek Christ and cry out to Him, “Have pity on me Lord, son of David!” Christ’s disciples were quite annoyed by her and asked Jesus to send her away. Jesus does challenge her regarding her pleadings, not to discourage her, but to test her faith. She does not give up. She continues to ask for help and offers that surprisingly humble, yet persuasive response,

“Please Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Matthew 15:27

Jesus, Who has dealt unsuccessfully with (most of) the Jewish leaders’ haughty pride (which keeps them from accepting Him as the Messiah), realizes what great faith this woman has. In fact, this so-called pagan woman stands in direct contrast to the attitude of the corrupted Pharisees and Sadducees. She has opened her heart to the Truth and has come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, but she is humble enough to beg for just the “scraps.” What faith she must have had and also an inspired understanding that, with the Holy Trinity, even the “scraps” would be quite enough for her needs.

We must strive to be like her, to pray without ceasing, and to accept whatever it is that God allots us, even if it seems like scraps. For the mercy of God is beyond human understanding, and the love of Christ “surpasses all knowledge.” (Ephesians 3:18)

Ponder:

Have I ever given up on God because I thought that He wasn’t listening or sending the answer that I was hoping for? Am I willing to pray, “Your will be done?”

Pray:

Help me Lord Jesus, Son of David. Fill my soul with faith and humility, that I may understand how high Your ways are above my ways and feel Your life-giving love, even when things don’t turn out the way I want.

Click to tweet:
We must strive to be like the Canaanite woman, to pray without ceasing, and to accept whatever it is that God allots us, even if it seems like scraps. #dailygospel

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