Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 9, 2023
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Since graduation, I have worked in a research lab aiming to identify new diabetes treatments. Research requires countless trial and error, which often leads to frustration. Often in these moments, I encounter someone who has diabetes. The suffering they share with me reminds me to be persistent—that I work neither for myself nor my immediate emotional validation but for those with this disease.
Similarly, the Canaanite woman in today’s gospel is exasperated. Her daughter is not well. Out of her motherly love, she has likely sought out many physicians to cure her daughter to no avail. However, she hears Jesus is near.
She first calls out to Jesus but receives no reply. After the disciples ask Jesus to send her away, Jesus states he was sent to the Jews, not her people. At this point, if I were the woman, I would have given up. Nevertheless, she persists despite rejection. She runs to Jesus, asks for his help, and is again rebuked. Amazingly, she implores Jesus again, knowing that the tiniest leftover morsel of his power will heal her daughter. At this final request, Jesus heals not only her daughter but her too.
What is this story’s lesson? We must actively seek out Jesus for others and ourselves, no matter the cost.
We are not only tormented by physical illnesses such as diabetes but also spiritual ailments from sin. Fortunately, Jesus heals us in many ways. Personally, I have received healing from Jesus most strongly through reading Scripture, receiving the Eucharist, and confessing my sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
May we persistently seek Christ’s healing daily, and like the Canaanite woman, we will undoubtedly be rewarded.
Prayer
Blessed are you, O Lord our God. Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, promised that people of all races or cultural backgrounds will be blessed in their persistent faith in your divine power and compassion. May we in our prayer also be so blessed as to receive those spiritual gifts that will assist us in giving you honor and glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Edith Stein was a brilliant philosopher who came to the Catholic faith through her intellectual pursuit of the truth.
She was born to a large Jewish family in Poland in 1891, and was an extraordinary student. She earned her doctorate in philosophy at the age of 25, and it was the witness of some of her friends that initially invited her to consider the Christian faith. She saw the strength of their faith, and began studying the Catholic tradition. She converted, and later became a Carmelite nun and taught in European universities as a member of the intellectual elite.
Her order relocated her to a convent in Holland because of her Jewish heritage, but she was eventually hunted down by the Nazis and was killed in a gas chamber in Auschwitz in 1942.
St. Edith Stein is the patron saint of Europe. Her story and image are used by high school students who come to campus for a summer conference with the Notre Dame Vision program.
St. Edith Stein, who searched for truth in philosophy and found Catholicism before being killed by Nazis—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Edith Stein is an illustration by Julie Lonneman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of her art. Used with permission.