Daily Reflection – 2/8/2024
Sacred Scripture
Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. (Mark 7:24-30)
Reflection
At first glance, this Gospel might seem harsh but, in fact, it is tender, and it speaks to the meaning of faith.
At first, Jesus seemed to pay no attention to the Gentile woman who approached Him. Jesus very likely did this not to put the woman off, but rather to test her sincerity and to awaken faith in her. Then, He responded as He did.
Jesus, no doubt, spoke with a smile rather than with an insult because this woman immediately responds with both wit and faith – “even the dogs eat the crumbs”. But she still didn’t quit. She approached Jesus now that he was speaking to her, fell before him in homage, and said, using one of the most powerful words in any language: “Lord, help me!”
Jesus was amazed at her persevering faith and gave her the greatest compliment in Sacred Scripture: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish!” And at that moment her daughter was healed. She had been helped to become great in faith precisely by Jesus’ testing.
Faith. One word. A word that has been written about throughout history. A word that is not only foundational in a discussion of theology and religion, but a word that has become diluted by humankind because it has become a part of our vernacular. Politicians use it. Coaches use it. Parents use it. Commercials use it. . . and on and on.
You and I have an avid interest in it because we believe in Him and want to actualize faith in our lives.
“Actualize faith in our lives.”
But that does not come easily. To be faithful is not a thing merely of the mind or heart, but of one’s whole life. To be faithful means to seek to love God with all one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength.
It’s not a once-and-for-all gift that grows on its own. It’s a gift of God that grows in response to acts of faith when we are tested, it’s a gift of God when we step into a new and unknown chapter of our lives, it’s a gift of God that provides us peace and certainty when we are confronted with adversity.
The more we inculcate faith in our lives, the more it grows.
Faith is not confined to prayer. It’s not confined to a building. It’s not confined to one denomination. It can’t be any of those because true faith is alive, it’s universal and it’s a constant journey. It grows as we grow both in our knowledge of Him and as we live out that knowledge in our daily life. Faith permeates every ounce of who we are, what we do and our daily relationships.
Faith is also an active verb because we live by faith, we live in faith, faith moves us forward regardless of what lies ahead. It accompanies us as we move through every chapter of our earthly life.
All of us – ALL – are offered a seat at the table. All of us have been graced with the gift of faith. That gift comes with a responsibility. We are asked to model our lives so that those who see us, see faith in motion. Seeing that faith alive helps others to grow in their faith.
It is our faith filled life that earns us the ultimate reward – to be with Him eternally.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I trust you always and never doubt your loving care and mercy. Increase my faith in your saving help and deliver me from all evil and harm.”
Daily Note
Jesus rewards a Gentile woman for her persistent faith and for her affectionate love. She made the misery of her child her own and she was willing to suffer rebuff to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence. Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request, and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one who ever sought Jesus with faith – whether Jew or Gentile – was refused his help. Do you seek Jesus with expectant faith?
