DAILY- HOMILY

August 9, 2017 – WEDNESDAY, 18th Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Virgin and Martyr

Green

Nm 13: 1 - 2, 25- 14: 1, 26a - 29a, 34 - 35 / Mt 15: 21 - 28

     Born a Jew in Poland, Edith Stein, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891 -

1942) was baptized in 1922. Twelve years later she became a Carmelite sister. She died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on 09 August 1942 at the age of fifty-one. Beatified in Cologne by Pope St. John Paul II in 1987, she was canonized by the same Pope in 1998.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 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 her, "It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the little dogs." The woman replied, "It is true, sir, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the 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

     Though the Canaanite woman was a Gentile, looked down upon by the Jews as second class, this did not deter her from seeking Jesus' help for the healing of her daughter. The woman's faith, praised by Jesus, was truly admirable in its humility and persistence.

     Oftentimes we are discouraged and become over anxious due to our problems and concerns, making us forget that we have a loving heavenly Father looking over us. In our distress we try to figure out and solve our problems on our own, at times even disregarding our Christian values: we feel the easier way is less troublesome, not realizing that it could lead to more serious problems.

     Lord Jesus, make us constantly aware of your loving presence in our hearts. Make us not forget that we always have you as a Friend with unequalled power caring for us. Make our faith in you grow stronger, our hope firmer and our dependence on you more complete.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ACERO PATOOCH

     DOROTHY CHUA HWAN-SY

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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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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