07/08/2024

Today Jeremiah belies his reputation as the bringer of misfortune, the "prophet of doom". Both the first reading and the psalm proclaim the ecstatic joy that is delight in the perfection of God. We need not analyse his words, if we just listen we too can share his paen of praise, and wonder how we too can come to the same heights of joyful faith. We certainly have to let go of ourselves and become totally subjected to the will of God.

Today Jesus has left Galilee and is out of the boundaries of "Palestine". He confirms that his "Mission" is to reform the Chosen People back to the image and likeness created by Our Father. We have no idea about who the "Canaanite woman" was. She is another totally anonymously important being except in the eyes of God. 

The "house dogs" is a phrase that has received much condemnation. It is a striking image and for it to come from the lips of Jesus shocks many of us to the core. He does not call a "non-Jew" a "dog" but many worse epithets about foreigners are still being scattered around even as I think this at home in England. 

The disciples are put into an acute state of embarrassment by the clamour raised by the woman. Jesus tells us that this is "Faith". 

She is pleading out of love for her daughter who lives in torment. She is at her wits end. She has heard about Jesus doings in neighbouring Galilee. Her answer to the Jewish Prophet and his reaction to it is to be pondered by all the non-Jews of our world who ask "Why the Jews, Lord, why only the Jews". 

When we are isolated unable to look after ourselves, completely powerless, with nothing except fear in our minds in that desperate prayer of the moment before death's door closes behind us we are still able to have "Faith" in the Love of God for all his creation.

"God looked at what he had created and saw that it is good." Lord, let there be room in your new creation for all animals, especially dogs, that are perfect in their created beings with the perfection that we humans have failed to match in ours.

Dear Lord, I am embarrassed by my sentimentality. I know that my human soul is the focus of your love for all creation and I am nothing if I do not accept your guidance for how we all should live as you have shown to us in Palestine. Continue to protect me from temptation and let me begin to pray without ceasing in preparation for that moment when my Faith  becomes perfect as then, just as it was for the Canaanite woman, there is no alternative.