Dear Parish Family,

  “O Woman, great is your faith!” These are the words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ to the Canaanite woman in the Gospel for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 15:21-28). She is a Canaanite (part of the pagan people to the west and north of Israel). Her “daughter is tormented by a demon.” When Jesus passes through her territory, she calls out to him, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” The disciples want to stop her and even Jesus seems to brush her aside. "It is not right to take the food of the children and give it to the dogs."

  Here is where we see her incredible faith. She could have been discouraged. She could have been sidetracked by a seemingly offensive statement and said: "Don't call me a dog." Instead, she humbly perseveres and says, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table."

  She then receives from Jesus great praise: "O Woman, great is your faith!" He healed her daughter.

  Jesus always sees beyond the surface. He knows what is in the heart of each one of us. He sees us as unique persons created in the image and likeness of God.

  Understandably, a person might ask why Our Lord’s initial response to her appeared to be dismissive. Fr. Phil Bloom, Pastor of St. Mary of the Valley Parish in Monroe, Washington gives an answer. He says, “One part of the answer is that he did not want to give the appearance of approving her religion. Like many coastal peoples the Canaanites tended toward syncretism - a blending of Egyptian, Greek, Roman and other gods. Worse than the syncretism were the practices it tolerated. In this case, child sacrifice and temple prostitution.” It might seem hard to fathom, “but parents actually offered their babies and small children in sacrifice to a god named Moloch. Their rituals included sexual enactment involving both female and male (homosexual) prostitutes. In light of these beliefs and hideous practices, one can understand why Jesus said that his mission was to lost sheep of the house of Israel. Concentrate on the people who worship the true God so they can be a leaven to the nations ("http://stmaryvalleybloom.org/homilyfor20thsunday-a.html).”

  
  The Canaanite woman had a deep and sincere faith. Let us pray for an ever deepening faith in God who is always good, all the time!

  God bless you.
  Fr. Dan Redmond