"Let your wish be granted"

 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 16th August 2020

(NB According to the Calendar this Sunday is the celebration of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Principal Patron of our Diocese. The Gospel reading for that is Luke 1:39-56. However, St Joseph's Newsletter for this Sunday refers to the Gospel for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, so I'm using the Prego material for that. You can find the Prego material for the Assumption by clicking here)

Gospel Matthew 15: 21–28

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said, ‘because she is shouting after us.’

He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said, ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted,

‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on the Gospel!

(I couldn't resist using this picture of my friend Archie the Lakeland Terrier. You can see more lovely photos and follow Archie's adventures on Twitter @ArchieLakeland)

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

In preparation for my prayer, I may like to look back over the last week, reflecting on the times when I have been aware of the presence of God in my life, and the moments when I have felt far from God.

Placing these before the Lord, I take a few long, deep breaths. I then allow my breath to find its own soothing rhythm.

I slowly read the passage several times, until it becomes familiar to me.

Imagining the sights and sounds surrounding this unexpected meeting, I now try to picture the dialogue between the woman, Jesus and his disciples.

Perhaps I place myself as a bystander ... or as one of the key figures.

What do I notice about the emotions and actions of each person?

I may spend time wondering what it felt like for the desperate mother. Who seems to demonstrate most compassion by their actions?

I ponder what this scene teaches me about the mystery of God’s message of love. How is this love found and expressed amongst people of very different faith and belief from my own?

Within my imagination, I sit down with Jesus and share my thoughts and feelings with him as I would with a dear friend.

I close my prayer by saying, together with Jesus, Our Father ...