God day. Hope you are all well. Yes, I am still having difficulties with this computer. I just hope you all are receiving these meditation.

Today’s Gospel, if it is the first time you are hearing this passage from Matthew’s Gospel one might get the wrong idea about how Jesus interacted with those who were outside of the Chosen People. Today we read about a Canaanite woman coming to Jesus to request a healing for her daughter who was possessed by an evil spirit.  Even being told by Jesus that it is not right that the children’s food be given to the dogs. Here Jesus uses a term for what we would know as a puppy or a small house dog. Yet this woman comes back at him and says true, but even the puppies eat the scraps that fall from the table.

Only a mother would put herself on the line for her child. Jesus does not get off so easily with mother. She is hell bent on getting help for her child even from this wondering preacher of whom she had heard of who could work miracles. This may be her last hope to help her daughter.

St. Augustine once wrote, “Hope has two daughters’ their names are Anger and Courage. Anger a the way things are and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”.

“Great is your faith”, Jesus tells this woman. Only a mother would have such a faith. Because of her belief that Jesus was able to help, no put down, no insult was going to put her off her mission. And as we are told, the daemon left her daughter and health was restored.

Sometimes, Faith is like what St. Augustine tells us that Faith has her two daughters who are always ready to come to our aid and give us a clear path to be strong as this Canaanite woman was in the face of the Son of God.

Peace and All Good,

Fr. Vinnie, osf and the

Bros and Srs of the

Franciscan House of Prayer.