Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends,

Throughout Scripture, there are many examples of what "faith" looks like - from the hemorrhaging woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment to today's example of a Canaanite woman whose persistence and humility are rewarded. Praying with this Gospel passage, I often thought of the word "desperation" as the Canaanite woman is desperate for Jesus to heal her daughter. I thought of times in my life where I wanted something so desperately that my only prayer was to ask the Lord for what I wanted day after day. There's a beautiful raw simplicity to having one request of such urgency, and there seems to be a lesson in the way that Jesus does not immediately concede to doing what the woman asks.

If Jesus had answered upon the first request, we would not have gotten the important line from the woman: "Please Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." - which reminds me of the prayer we say at every Mass: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and I shall be healed". In our sinfulness, we are separated from God but in our faith, we are reconciled to Him. My invitation to you today is to reflect: what are you desperate for? Have you asked the Lord? Do you expect Him to fulfill your desire? Have you persisted in asking or have you given up?

Let us turn once again in faith to the Lord, presenting our desires and our unworthiness and ask for our heart's desires.

May God bless you,

Amy