Gospel Reflections for August 16 2020
Wait for the happy ending…
Television news today often starts with terrible events. But sometimes what might look horrible at first turns out to have a happy ending, just like in today’s Gospel.
The harsh words Jesus speaks to a poor pagan woman at first seem terrible. Yet they soon reveal deeper insights …and much needed wisdom too.
This is a step by step dramatic dialogue that builds to a great ending.
She first cries out to Jesus for a cure for her daughter …and receives no reply! Then she cries out again, and the disciples try to silence her. She even speaks again, only to have Jesus speak what seems like harsh words. Finally, after her last request, Jesus happily answers her prayer. So what is going on here?
This step by step dialogue actually represents the stages you might experience in your own prayer.
The first stage of prayer often reveals a silence from God that can feel unsettling. After all, when we speak with friends we are used to hearing an immediate audible response. Why not from God? This Gospel reveals that divine conversations are different.
Next, the disciples try to silence her, much like people today telling you that your prayer is useless and a waste of time. Fortunately, the woman does not listen to them! Nor should you.
The next stage is most important. When Jesus comments on her prayerful request, He is really asking, “Is what you seek …really the right answer for you?”
Our Lord is asking her, and you, to reflect more deeply about what you want and especially its motivation. “Are you asking for something for yourself or for the good of others? Is your prayer just a sudden whim or a deeply considered request?”
Finally, the woman reveals that she has deeply reflected, and her prayer is only for her daughter’s health …and so Jesus grants her request. Jesus recognizes faith, hope, and love, even in a pagan woman.
God is only interested in your eternal salvation and so will always give you what you need for that. He may grant good health, like the woman in the Gospel, or even wealth, or may instead let you experience the natural challenges that life brings, and patiently help you develop the virtues of faith, hope, and love to courageously face and overcome them.
What at first looks horrible in this Gospel actually reveals insights and wisdom that can change the way that you pray.
God knows what is best to give you …for your salvation and your ultimate happy ending!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you for a clearer understanding of our conversation (prayer) with God! I was sincerely impressed with the perfectly reasonable suggestion to pray for others… thus being more in line with thinking of others first and foremost… a valuable lesson indeed. Have a wonderful weekend!
I wish you a wonderful weekend as well!
Dear Father Dave,
You’ve given us another “on target” message. Thank you.
Yes, there are always obstacles and difficulties but for the most part, a big part, I sometimes wonder why I’ve been so blessed? I’m truly grateful and humbled by His love and the love of family and friends.
When we see the riots and crazed people who are so destructive in the world, what we are really seeing is ignorance, fear, arrogance, hatred, and tortured souls. God loves them, too, except not what they’re doing.
Somehow those people have forgotten gratitude, forgotten the simplicity of collaboration with God and with their fellow human beings.
How often I think of the parable of the mustard seed and it’s beauty.
God bless you now and forever.
Kathleen A.
Yes, you are so right in saying how important gratitude is. It changes everything for the better!
I’m a 75 yr. old, life-long Catholic and now I finally understand this gospel and its importance for me and mine.
Thanks Fr. Dave!
You are very welcome!
You always have a way of giving us new thoughts in how to interpret the Gospels and the words of Jesus. This was a new way to realize what Jesus meant by waiting a bit. Also, you leave us with hope always which is needed these days..
Thank you
Yes, patience is a virtue that Jesus often taught.
Thank for a wonderful homily. May God richly bless you.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Thank you Fr. Dave for your beautiful and insightful messages. I look forward to them every week and I have really feel they help me understand the gospel better.
I am so glad you find my articles so helpful!
Fr Dave.
When I pray for world peace & peace in the Middle East I never know if I might see. This in my lifetime or in eternity. Yet I pray for it. I was so surprised this week by the Abraham accord that I felt like I might need to put cold water on my face to see if this was really real. I pray that peace endures & grows. This could be a silver lining of growth of love blooming in the middle of this pandemic. Praise be God.
God Bless
Jane
Yes, I think the Abraham Accord recently signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is just the start of a new momentum for peace in the Middle East.