In today’s Gospel reflection, the essential themes are divine love, reverence, honesty, humility, courage, and persistence. Jesus is with His disciples, in the region of Tyre and Sidon, surrounded by Jews and Gentiles. This desperate woman sought help for her daughter. What parent doesn’t experience pain when her child is in agonizing torment? It’s this pain that the woman risks humiliation and rejection and approaches Jesus with reverence, honesty, and humility. She was drawn to Jesus’s Light, and moved by the Spirit of faith, hope and bold courage emerged. Jesus responded to her tenacity and true faith by healing her daughter.

When life challenges us, do we kneel before our Lord and ask for help with an honest and trusting heart, or do we attempt to bargain with Him? Are we willing to expose, to Him, our imperfections and admit that we need Him? Truthfully, we are unworthy of His love, His healing, and His intervention; and yet, He gives us so much more than we deserve. Jesus’s disciples, on the other hand, wanted to send the woman away. Isn’t this what we do, at times? We want to avoid problems and are intolerant or annoyed when we judge others are acting entitled or demanding.

Jesus shows us that He came for everyone.  Jesus, the Man, is also Divine Love. Many witnessed that by His word, alone, the woman’s daughter is healed. Are we always mindful of this mysterious and amazing fact in our own lives? God’s love transforms us and He responds to our needs. Let us place our complete trust in Him and pray, “Lord, please help me. Amen.” Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all circumstances give thanks– 1 Thess. 5:16-18.