Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”

 

Gospel Reading: Mark 7:24-30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

 

Do you ever get the feeling that God’s not listening? You’re in desperate need of some major intervention and he just ignores you. You go as far as to fall on your knees and beg for his help, but the reply appears to be silent. In today’s Gospel reading, a Gentile woman cries out to Jesus to save her daughter from a demonic spirit. The Gentiles were not religious people so for her to reach out to Jesus was a rather bold move. But for her to fall on her knees and beg for help required her to humble herself before God. But still Jesus tested her to make sure her faith was true. At first Jesus appears to ignore her cries for help. He tells her that he is there to save the children of Israel, not the heathens who are dogs. The woman stands strong in her faith and replies to him again that even the “dogs” deserve his Grace. Feeling the truth of her conviction, Jesus replies, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When we cry out, “My God, My God,” he is listening to us. The question is, are we truly faithful in our request. No one is denied help from the Lord; however, he calls for us to be faithful in our desire for his love. Jesus ends up praising this woman for her faith and her prayers are answered. We too must exhibit unconditional faith in God. We must seek the Lord with a deep and sincere faith. If we do, our cries will be answered.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

My God, My God, I cry out to you.

You are my Savior and my Lord.

May I trust you always and pursue your love.

May I never stray or weaken in my faith.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon