From the Pastor to His People

08-20-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Today, we hear in the Gospel of the Canaanite woman who begged Jesus to help her daughter, who experiences evil torment. Knowing she is not a Jew, she feels her unworthiness and disadvantage, yet she persists in her plea, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters. We see in her an example of humility, faith, and gratitude when Jesus healed her daughter. Do we have the same faith and persistence as the woman?

The compassionate nature of Jesus comes out when He sees sorrow, grief, hunger, and desperation. When informed of the death of Lazarus, He wept and raised him to life. Seeing the vast crowd following and staying with Him in deserted places led to the miracle of the multiplication. The story of the Centurion whose servant is gravely ill, and finally, this desperate mother who appeals for pity and compassion, all these human situations moved Jesus to grant their prayers. The Lord sees beyond any barrier of race, creed, and nationality; He only requires faith. Jesus sees that compassion is for all, Jews or pagans, worthy or outcast. Let us take the example of the Lord and not limit our loving and giving to those we perceive as deserving or worthy. Let us go beyond our comfort zones and reach out to the marginalized who need our help and care.

The Canaanite woman was desperate. Despite being passed twice, she persisted. The disciples were the ones affected by the woman’s persistence and asked Jesus to dismiss her. How often have we acted like the disciples and dismissed bothersome family, friends, and especially those asking for help or our time? There are many Canaanite women in our lives, and some of them are really desperate. May we learn to see beyond our biases: Thinking they are only after our money, they are a waste of time, or they will never change. Have we ignored and pushed people back because we see only the image of a bothersome Canaanite woman?

As we age, may we learn early of payback time to God by serving our brothers and sisters. Do not give God our scraps, our spare time, or just a fraction of our material blessings. How much are we giving back to God? We are all on borrowed time; our clocks are constantly ticking May we have no regrets that we have given so little and so late to God. In receiving, abundance is the scraps of God, but when we give, let us give generously.

We fail only; if we quit. Let us do our best, and let God do the rest. Without commitment, we will never start. Without consistency, we will never finish. Keep moving, working, striving, and never give up on God, for He never gives up on us. All God expects from us is not to give up trying. While we live, let us strive for excellence, goodness, truth, and holiness. Because God does not give up on us, let us not give up on people and ourselves. No one will know, but we know, and God will know if we have given our best or scraps.

Lord, help us to give our best, not our scraps, to you and your people.

When Jesus tested the woman the last time: It is not right to throw the food of the children to the dogs, she responded that even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the master’s table she showed persistence and humility. Her response evoked admiration from Jesus because of her tremendous faith. When we approach God with the proper disposition in times of need, He moves with compassion and grants our petition or humble request. A humble and contrite heart, God will not spurn. (Ps. 51:17)

Just keep praying, keep pleading, and someday our wish will come true. It may not be the exact package we wanted, but it will be according to what God thinks is best for us, all according to His time. Keep believing that God has a plan and that He is in command.