A humble faith saves

Gen. 2:18-25, Mk 7:24-30. In today's first reading, God saw the need for a woman to complement a man, He uses Adam to create Eve as God took out one of his ribs and closed up the place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that He had taken from the man. The union by which a man complement his wife while a woman does the same to the husband enables the image of God to flourish. In this way marriage sets the pattern for all human friendship and community on a good foundation. That is why Adam exclaimed: “This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” If a spouse needs to leave father and mother and cling to the other, each has a divine mandate to put nothing before one’s loyalty to the other. Just as with Adam, God invites us to share with Him in the ongoing work of creation. God has created all things, as the book of Genesis teaches us and yet He invites us to help Him manifest what He has created in unique ways.

While a mother and father are integral to the creation of a new human life, they cannot achieve this themselves; they create in collaboration with God. Though, we are called to be collaborators in God's creative act, today's Gospel also reminds us of the need to be humble in our attempt to reach the Lord. As the Gentile woman fell at the feet of Jesus begging for help, she did so with the humility of likening herself to a dog seeking the scraps from the master's table. The words of apparent rejection are disarmed by the woman’s humility, perseverance and love for her child. Not for selfish pleasure or personal gain, but for the sake of her daughter, the woman did not react to harsh words by replying: “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” This answer overcomes His first objections and Jesus heals the woman’s daughter, a splendid example of gentle perseverance rewarded. The woman's humble faith saves her child from the unclean spirit.

May the Lord help us to walk in His way and be responsible and humble collaborators in God’s creative act! Amen!! Good morning and have a glorious day!!!