Tuesday, August 07, 2012
WEDNESDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
AUGUST 8, 2012
WEDNESDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
MEMORIAL, ST DOMINIC
Jer 31:1-7 / Mt 15:21-28
JEREMIAH 31:1-7
Yahweh declares that when that time comes he will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be his people. Thus says Yahweh: The people who survived the sword have found grace in the desert. As Israel was seeking for his rest Yahweh appeared from afar saying, I have loved you with a love everlasting, so I have kept for you my mercy. I will restore you again, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel! You will take up your tambourines and go out dancing joyfully. You will plant vineyards again on the hills of Samaria, and the farmers who plant them will enjoy their fruit. There shall be a day when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, "Come, let us go to Zion, to Yahweh our God!" For Yahweh says this: Shout with joy for Jacob; rejoice for the greatest of nations. Proclaim your praise and say: "Yahweh has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!"
MATTHEW 15:21-28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Now a Canaanite woman came from those borders and began to cry out, "Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But Jesus did not answer her, not even a word. So his disciples approached him and said, "Send her away! See how she is shouting after us." Then Jesus said to her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel." But the woman was already kneeling before Jesus, and said, "Sir, help me!" Jesus answered, "It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the puppy dogs." The woman replied, "That is true, sir, but even the puppy dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table." Then Jesus said, "Woman, how great is your faith! Let it be as you wish." And her daughter was healed at that moment.
REFLECTION
These verses of the Gospel focus on the great faith and humility of a Canaanite woman, who acknowledges the inferiority of her race as opposed to the Israelites. She is convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, a Jewish King, Son of David, capable of healing her daughter from demon possession. It is not Jesus' intention to belittle her by reminding her of the distinction between Jews and Canaanites, i.e., "children" versus "dogs." Rather, he tests her perseverance, to see how far she would go.
In Jewish territory, Jesus tried to convince people that he was the Messiah and was met with hostility. In Gentile land, he meets a Canaanite who did not know him but believed. Undaunted, the woman humbly took the role of the "dog," willing to pick up the crumbs dropped by the "children" and begged for mercy. Jesus recognizes her great faith. He performs a miracle for a Canaanite in Gentile territory. Here Jesus sets a precedent – his ministry may have initially focused on the Jews but he went to the Gentiles and extended his grace to all who believed in him.
As disciples of Christ, our mission is to take the message of grace to whomever believes. If we encounter refusal, we pray for them. But as Jesus turned to the Gentiles, we also turn to those who want it and are prepared to receive his message.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Lois Lussier, Shirley Weber
- Mon Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
- Tito Oreta
- Elean Flores
- Kathy
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Donna V
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Enrique-Alfonso Castillo
- Birthday: Francesca Andrea Ching
- In Memoriam (+): Corazon S. Ong
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
WEDNESDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
MEMORIAL, ST DOMINIC
Jer 31:1-7 / Mt 15:21-28
JEREMIAH 31:1-7
Yahweh declares that when that time comes he will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be his people. Thus says Yahweh: The people who survived the sword have found grace in the desert. As Israel was seeking for his rest Yahweh appeared from afar saying, I have loved you with a love everlasting, so I have kept for you my mercy. I will restore you again, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel! You will take up your tambourines and go out dancing joyfully. You will plant vineyards again on the hills of Samaria, and the farmers who plant them will enjoy their fruit. There shall be a day when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, "Come, let us go to Zion, to Yahweh our God!" For Yahweh says this: Shout with joy for Jacob; rejoice for the greatest of nations. Proclaim your praise and say: "Yahweh has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!"
MATTHEW 15:21-28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Now a Canaanite woman came from those borders and began to cry out, "Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But Jesus did not answer her, not even a word. So his disciples approached him and said, "Send her away! See how she is shouting after us." Then Jesus said to her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel." But the woman was already kneeling before Jesus, and said, "Sir, help me!" Jesus answered, "It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the puppy dogs." The woman replied, "That is true, sir, but even the puppy dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table." Then Jesus said, "Woman, how great is your faith! Let it be as you wish." And her daughter was healed at that moment.
REFLECTION
These verses of the Gospel focus on the great faith and humility of a Canaanite woman, who acknowledges the inferiority of her race as opposed to the Israelites. She is convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, a Jewish King, Son of David, capable of healing her daughter from demon possession. It is not Jesus' intention to belittle her by reminding her of the distinction between Jews and Canaanites, i.e., "children" versus "dogs." Rather, he tests her perseverance, to see how far she would go.
In Jewish territory, Jesus tried to convince people that he was the Messiah and was met with hostility. In Gentile land, he meets a Canaanite who did not know him but believed. Undaunted, the woman humbly took the role of the "dog," willing to pick up the crumbs dropped by the "children" and begged for mercy. Jesus recognizes her great faith. He performs a miracle for a Canaanite in Gentile territory. Here Jesus sets a precedent – his ministry may have initially focused on the Jews but he went to the Gentiles and extended his grace to all who believed in him.
As disciples of Christ, our mission is to take the message of grace to whomever believes. If we encounter refusal, we pray for them. But as Jesus turned to the Gentiles, we also turn to those who want it and are prepared to receive his message.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Lois Lussier, Shirley Weber
- Mon Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
- Tito Oreta
- Elean Flores
- Kathy
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Donna V
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Enrique-Alfonso Castillo
- Birthday: Francesca Andrea Ching
- In Memoriam (+): Corazon S. Ong
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 3:42 AM 
