“O woman, great is your faith!” These were the words Jesus spoke to the persistent woman. She believed that if she asked Jesus to heal her daughter, he would heal her - even though she was a Canaanite who said “even the dogs eat the scrapes from the master’s table” when Jesus was hesitant in helping her.
I must admit I looked at this passage many times and could not come up with a reflection. The Spirit just wasn’t giving me any insights…until I asked myself this question: What does this parable have to say to me, to us, today? Two words then popped out at me - faith and persistence.
These two words are so important for us today. We need great faith and persistence in prayer in order to get through these difficult times. These two words also help us to reach out to those around us who need strength or healing. Like Jesus, we can use our talents and gifts to help heal those who need help. We can challenge ourselves to reach across our comfort zones in faith to those who need help. We can change the world like Jesus did if we persist in our faith as Jesus asks of us.
Sister Rebecca Sullivan, CSFN
