"Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David."
"Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
The woman persists, and Jesus praises her for her for faith.
Jesus said, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish."

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 31:1-7

Yahweh declares that when

That time comes he will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be his people.

 Thus says Yahweh: The people who survived the sword have found grace in the desert. As Israel was seeking for his rest Yahweh appeared from afar saying, I have loved you with a love everlasting, so I have kept for you my mercy.   I will restore you again, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel!

You will take up your tambourines and go out dancing joyfully.  You will plant vineyards again on the hills of Samaria, and the farmers who plant them will enjoy their fruit.

There shall be a day when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, “Come, let us go to Zion, to Yahweh our God!”

 For Yahweh says this: Shout with joy for Jacob; rejoice for the greatest of nations. Proclaim your praise and say: “Yahweh has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!” 

 

Jer 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊   

Matthew 15:21-28

 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.   Now a Canaanite woman came from those borders and began to cry out, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”  But Jesus did not answer her, not even a word. So his dis­ciples approached him and said, “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 the little dogs.”   The woman replied, “It is true, sir, but even the little dogs 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.

 

Gospel Reflection：

A Faith That Moves God

In today’s gospel, we have the amazing event of a Canaanite woman converting Jesus! Some would say that Jesus, being all-knowing, all-powerful God, was testing the faith of the woman. Well, I am not very sure.

What if Jesus, in his total humanity and at the point of his ministry, was inclined to think that the Jews merited his primary attention before others? But he was so open to his Father’s Truth and aware of the movements within human hearts that he was truly surprised by the quality of faith the woman exhibited.

And he realized instantly that his Father would simply not hold back his Grace from such faith. Her wish, emerging from such faith and trust, would be God’s command. Evidently, faith can move not only mountains, but God Himself!