O WOMAN, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH!

Jer 31,1-7; C Jer 31,10.11-12ab.13; Mt 15,21-28
8 AUGUST
On every page of the Gospel the prophecy of Simeon is fulfilled. Before the Sun of Jesus the Lord, perfection and imperfection, faith and non faith, love and non love, hate and non hate, rejection or welcome, openness or closure, goodness and wickedness, attention or indifference are revealed in their essence. There is neither hypocrisy nor fiction that can hide, nor secrets meandering of the heart that remain hidden and well hidden. Simeon reveals that Jesus is the light to enlighten the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, God the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth, to the Gentiles. He is the Lord of the Gentiles and through him everyone might know him in his clearest splendour.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Lk 2,25-35).

A woman, belonging to the Gentiles, because she is not a daughter of Abraham, recognizes Jesus as the Messiah sent by God for her too, and asks him for the grace of the healing of her daughter, who is gravely ill. Jesus does not even speak to her. It is as if the woman did not exist for him, rather, it is as if He were deaf to her cries. If Jesus is also of the woman because that is how the Father has established from eternity, He cannot ignore her. He must listen to her. Her cry becomes higher. This is the heart of the woman. Grace must be done to her. For her it is a right. She does not give up her rights.

The disciples approach their Master and ask him to grant her. Their heart is also manifested and revealed. They ask neither out of pity nor out of love for the woman. The reason for their intercession lies entirely in the annoyance that this woman is causing them. Jesus answers her. She leaves. Peace returns again around them. The heart of the disciples is not yet pervaded with the Holy Spirit. Never might annoyance be a reason to perform a miracle or to grant a favour. They are still not driven by the purer and greater love. For this they will still have to work a lot. Tomorrow, they will have to fulfil everything with great compassion, divine charity and an ever greater love. Without love they will get tired soon. They will abandon their ministry. If they practice it, they will do it without heart, without love and for vile interest. They might also do it as tyrants or despots. Never as disciples of Jesus.

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 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.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

The woman does not desist. With a wise and intelligent faith she obliges Jesus to listen to her.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, make us with a pure, true heart, rich in love and compassion.