Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of
the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (3rd August, 2016) on the
Gospel
Jer 31:1-7;
Jer 31:10-13. (R. cf. v. 10);Matt 15:21-28.
Topic: When God appears silent.
In the district of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman kept shouting
after Jesus, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by
a demon.” Jesus was silent. The disciples urged Him to send her away. Kneeling before
Him, she prayed, “Lord, help me.” Jesus replied, “It is not fair to take the
children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” And the woman answered, “Yes, Lord,
yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Often there are complaints that God is silent. Sometimes, it even
takes the nature of accusation. The Psalmist rightly replies, “He who planted
the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?” (Ps 94:9).
The letter to the Hebrews reads, “...faith is the assurance
of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Faith when tested produces endurance and also reveals its
genuineness, cf. Jas 1:3; 1Pt 1:7. God
said that after testing, “They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will
say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”cf. Zech 13:9.
Jesus’ silence tested the woman’s faith. Hence Jesus finally said
to her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” In the
same vein, we must continue to call on God until He hears our cry. Our souls must
wait in silence for God alone because our hope and salvation come from Him alone,
cf. Ps 62:1, 5. God also said, “...my
righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no
pleasure in him” (Heb 10:38).
Bible Reading: Jas 1:2-8.
Thought for today: ...endurance produces character (Rom 5:4).
Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to endure to
the end – Amen.
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