8.16.14

Lectio: Mt 15.21-28                                   

Meditatio: "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’. ....She said, ‘Please, Lord, for even dogs eat the scraps from that fall from the table of their masters’.” Mt 15, 22,27

Oratio: O God, how merciful You are!

I remember Jesus dialogued with a Canaanite women who requested that He heal her daughter. He made ir  clear that His mission was to the House of Israel and not to others. He then bantered with her, teasing her I suspect,  for He referred to His granting her a healing for a daughter, it would be like taking food from the children; but here retort, was that even dogs eat the scraps from their master’s table. In doing so, she showed great dignity, courage and faith and Jesus responded by healing her daughter. What a wonderful outcome! In prayer seek the grace to show mercy to those whose lives you touch even though they are not one of us, for that is Jesus’ way.
       
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio:  reflect "Canaanite...dogs....scraps”; ministering to a non-Jew was not the mission of Jesus but He set His priority aside when the woman showed such great faith and humility. In prayer seek the grace to realize t hat God is moved to action not simply by our words, but by our response to Him and He especially is open to those of humble and contrite hearts who extend mercy to others. Having realized this, let it be a guiding principle for us and Jesus will be pleased.

Tomorrow's reading:  Mt 23.13-22

P.S. I will be on vacation for the nest week and I may not be able to post these daily exercises. I will remember all in my Mass and seek the grace that the Word of God will always be a source of wonderful food for your souls..