Eighteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

We would do well to keep in mind the persistence and words of the Canaanite woman whenever we are faced with difficulties. We should not be so prideful that we do not seek God’s help first and foremost. None of us is perfect. We are all sinners. However, we should also never feel so unworthy of God’s Love that we fail to ask for His Mercy. God loves both saints and sinners, those who are worthy and unworthy, and He will not rest until He has given all His children every opportunity to love Him in return. It is in the virtue of humility that we find the sense of worth that we need to approach God, persist in our faith, and the willingness to accept any graces, great or small, that God might offer us in our times of need.

How often do we ask God to have pity on us? How often do we turn to God for help? Are we willing to do what it takes to cultivate the virtue of humility?

O Lord, give us the faith to seek you out constantly and with humble, persistent hearts.

Amen.