Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Matthew 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
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.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The healing of this woman’s daughter is one of only two miracles in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus performs at a distance. The other being a centurion’s slave. In both cases, the person healed is a Gentile, not a Jew.

This is important for two reasons. 

First, Jews held a very exclusive idea of God. They were a holy people; an appointed race; a nation set apart by God to be blameless in his sight. 

As the Psalmist tells, “He proclaims his statutes and laws to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; he has not taught them his decrees” (Psalm 147:20).

Second, in the ancient world, Jews and Gentiles were enemies. Jews allowed themselves no contact with other people or nations, lest they became impure – and by extension, unpleasing in God’s eyes.

Thus, for Jesus to heal a Gentile was mindboggling, if not outright scandalous, which is why Mattew wants his listeners to experience the tension building between Jesus and this desperate mother in today’s Gospel.

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First, she hears of Jesus approaching and rushes out to greet him, shouting repeatedly for mercy. In spite of being dismissed by the disciples, and completely ignored by the Lord, she continues in desperation, pleading for help. 

When Jesus finally does acknowledge her, she falls at his feet, disregards him calling her a “dog,” and returns a blessing, instead, calling him both “Lord” and “Son of David,” titles of respect, if not also an acknowledgment of his divinity. 

Only after this woman has been brought to the very brink of despair, does the Lord heal her daughter and commend her faith, saying he’s not found anything as profound in Israel.

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What might this harrowing passage mean for us?

It serves as a reminder that there is nothing more appealing to the Lord than a person of faith, which transcends every boundary, including nation and race.

Sometimes the Lord tests our faith only to strengthen it.

And God has come to save us all, beginning with those – like this mother – who will do anything to reach him.

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Image credits: (1) Back to the Bible (2) Jesus and the Canaanite Woman, Benjamin Beeks, Medium (3) Tumblr

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Gospel: Matthew 9:35 – 10:1

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds,
his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Then he summoned his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits
to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint John Vianney, the Patron Saint of priests.

John was born in 18^th century France and raised by his parents who were humble farmers. Not receiving any formal education until he entered the seminary, John was never among the brightest students in his class, but he was known as among the holiest. 

Three years after his priestly ordination, he was sent to the small town of Ars, with just 230 residents. There he not only dedicated his life to the spiritual care of the faithful; he also became known as a warm and gentle confessor.

As his reputation spread, John began spending up to 18 hours a day inside the confessional, administering the Sacrament to people from all around France – and beyond. Some estimates state that he eventually heard more than 20,000 confessions a year.

What was once a sleepy town in France became known as, “the great hospital of souls.”

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Part of what made John such a unique priest was the fact that he was merciful to everyone who sought his counsel, imposing very minor penances on pilgrims, while performing much greater penances for them himself.

Examples included eating a very meager diet, as little as a single potato a day, while allowing himself a few meager hours of rest.

Before his death, John was quoted as saying, “If we really understood the priest on earth, we would die – not of fear, but of love.” 

John understood that priests are not only Christ’s representative on earth, making the Lord present through the grace of the Sacraments; but priests are also called to live like Jesus, who gave his very Self for the sake of his flock.

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Today let’s pray for all priests, especially for those in need of spiritual renewal, that like John, we’d be gentle confessors; embrace a life of penance; and bear the heart of the one whom we represent:

The Good Shepherd.

Jesus Christ.

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Image credits: (1) Franciscan Media (2) Saint John Vianney, Wikipedia (3) Children of the Eucharist

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Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Peter is understandably afraid. Until now, he’s only walked on land. Never would he have imagined walking on water, which could swallow him whole.

Still, the Lord dares Peter to step out of his comfort zone; to trust that he can do something new – something radical – with the Lord’s blessing.

We don’t know how far Peter walked, whether it was one foot or ten before the wind screamed and the waves reached high enough that he lost his newfound freedom and began to sink. 

While he trusted Jesus, Peter was lighter than a feather. Only when fear filled his heart did he sink like lead.

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With enough trust, I wonder if any of the other disciples could’ve also stepped out of the boat and walked on water. Was this an honor reserved strictly for Peter? 

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Maybe not.

After all, we’ve all walked in his sandals before, standing on the proverbial edge of the boat, knowing that Jesus is inviting us to step out and take a leap of faith.

Whether it’s something small, like a surge of grace leading us to extend or accept an apology.

An addict being invited to stand on the waters of sobriety.

A newly married couple feeling inspired to bring a child into the world.

A young person entering religious life.

Or an otherwise ordinary day when, suddenly, we have the impulse to do something kind, beautiful, or BIG for God.

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Walking on land is boring. We do it all the time.

Every so often we’re called to get our feet wet. To step out and explore the deep, marveling at the one, “whom even the winds and the sea obey” (Matthew 8:27).

What might that look like for me today?

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Image credits: (1) The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt (2) Meistr Dreuke (3) Family Radio