by Deacon Adel Abrugena
My dear brothers and sisters,
In today’s Gospel, we meet a woman who teaches us something powerful about faith. She is a Canaanite woman, an outsider, someone who, in the eyes of many, did not belong. Yet she comes to Jesus with one desire: “Lord, help me.”Her daughter is suffering, and she refuses to give up.
What is remarkable is that Jesus does not immediately grant her request. She experiences silence, rejection, and even words that could have easily discouraged her. But she does not walk away.
How many of us have been there?
We pray for healing, but the illness remains. We pray for our marriage, but the problems continue. We pray for our children, but they seem farther from God. We try to share our faith with others, only to be ignored, rejected, or misunderstood.
Sometimes, after praying for a long time, we may begin to wonder, “Lord, are You even listening?”
The Canaanite woman teaches us: Do not give up.
Her faith was not based on getting an immediate answer. Her faith was based on knowing who Jesus was. Even when she did not understand His response, she continued to trust Him. She remained humble, persistent, and faithful.
And eventually, Jesus says to her: “Woman, great is your faith!” Her daughter was healed.
Brothers and sisters, this Gospel is not telling us that if we simply pray long enough, God will always give us exactly what we ask for. But it assures us that no sincere prayer is ever wasted. God hears us. God sees our tears. God knows the burdens we carry, even those we cannot share with anyone else.
For those who are married, do not give up too quickly on each other. Keep praying. Keep forgiving. Keep loving.
For parents, never stop praying for your children.
For those who are sick or suffering, continue to hold on to God, even when the road is difficult.
For those who serve in the Church and share the Gospel, do not be discouraged when people do not immediately respond.
And for all of us, especially as members of Couples for Christ and as followers of Jesus, we are reminded that faith must be accompanied by humility. The Canaanite woman did not demand. She simply placed herself before the Lord and trusted in His mercy.
Perhaps today, each of us carries a prayer that has not yet been answered. Maybe we are tired. Maybe we are discouraged. Maybe we are close to giving up.
Today, Jesus invites us to keep coming back to Him.
Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep loving.
Because sometimes, the greatest miracle is not only that God changes our situation, but that through our perseverance, He changes us.
May we have the faith of the Canaanite woman, a faith that remains humble, a love that remains faithful, and a heart that never gives up on God. Amen.