“Send her away! See how she is shouting after us.”
Then Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.”
But the woman was already kneeling before Jesus, and said, “Sir, help me!”
Jesus answered, “It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to puppies.”
The woman replied, “That is true, sir, but even puppies eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said, “Woman, how great is your faith! Let it be as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

REFLECTION:
Our age glorifies imperfection over worthiness.
Many young people are proud of being misfits and wayward than being capable of a well-directed life.
Some find joy bragging about their sinfulness than their inhe­rent goodness. Holiness has become a label many are ashamed of.
The Canaanite woman in ­today’s Gospel, however, believes otherwise.
She insists she deserves to be amongst God’s children even if her circumstance denies it.
She believes God cannot count her out even if she gets the littlest of shares.
The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major invites everyone to assert his or her belongingness to God’s family and assembly.
There are no misfits or unworthy to dwell under His roof. Accordingly, Mary, the mother of God,
crosses borders to welcome and embrace people from different situations in life. We insist we are God’s children.
We belong to Him.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020