COLLECT SERIES
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COLLECT
The
Collect for 20th Sunday Ordinary Time reads as follows:
O God,
who have prepared for those who love You
good
things which no eye can see,
Fill
our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of Your love,
So
that, loving You in all things and above all things,
We may
attain Your promises,
Which
surpass every human desire
Through
Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,
Who
lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God
for ever and ever.
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS
In making this prayer tangible the following reflection
questions emerged:
- What are the good things which God has prepared for You?
- How much do I long for God and how might I long for Him more this coming week?
- What steps will I take this coming week to love God above all things?
- What does the warmth of God’s love mean for you?
- How have I experienced God’s love in my life?
GOSPEL
REFLECTION
Matthew 15:21–28
Theme: “Great Is Your Faith”
Setting the Scene
Jesus travels to the region of
Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile territory outside the traditional boundaries of
Israel. There He encounters a Canaanite woman whose daughter is suffering
greatly.
Desperate for help, the woman
approaches Jesus and cries out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David.” She
recognises Jesus as the Messiah and places her hope in Him.
At first, Jesus appears
unresponsive. The disciples become annoyed by her persistence and ask Him to
send her away. Even when Jesus speaks about His mission to the lost sheep of
Israel, the woman refuses to give up. She kneels before Him and continues to
plead for mercy.
Finally, Jesus praises her
extraordinary faith and grants her request. Her daughter is healed that very
hour.
This Gospel is a powerful
testimony to perseverance, humility, and unwavering trust in God's mercy.
Gospel Reflection: Faith That
Refuses to Give Up
The Canaanite woman is one of
the most remarkable figures in the Gospels. She is not part of the Jewish
people, yet she demonstrates a faith that becomes an example for everyone who
follows Christ.
At first, the conversation
between Jesus and the woman can seem difficult to understand. Jesus' response
appears unusually harsh. Yet the encounter gradually reveals the depth of the
woman's faith and the universality of God's saving love.
The woman is not discouraged
by silence, obstacles, or apparent rejection. She continues to trust. She
continues to ask. She continues to believe that Jesus can help her.
Her persistence is not
stubbornness; it is faith.
She approaches Jesus with
humility. She does not demand. She does not claim entitlement. Instead, she
places herself completely in His hands and trusts in His mercy.
In the end, Jesus publicly
acknowledges what He already sees within her heart: “Woman, great is your
faith!”
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus
often comments on people's faith. Rarely does He describe it as great. The
woman becomes a model of courageous trust, demonstrating that God's grace is
offered to all who come to Him in faith.
Personal Reflection
There are times when prayer
can feel difficult. We may pray for healing, guidance, peace, or help for a
loved one, yet the answer does not come as quickly as we hope.
Like the Canaanite woman, we
may experience moments when God seems silent or distant. During such times, it
can be tempting to give up.
This Gospel encourages us to
persevere.
The woman's faith was not
based on immediate results. Her faith remained strong because she trusted in
the goodness and mercy of Jesus.
Her example invites us to
bring our needs honestly before God while continuing to trust Him, even when
answers take time.
The Gospel also reminds us
that God's love extends beyond every boundary and limitation. No one is outside
His concern. No one is beyond His reach.
Whenever we feel discouraged,
this courageous woman reminds us to keep praying, keep trusting, and keep
believing that God is at work.
Questions for Reflection
- What part of this Gospel speaks most
strongly to me today?
- When have I experienced a period of
waiting in prayer?
- How do I respond when God's answers seem
delayed?
- What can I learn from the perseverance of
the Canaanite woman?
- Where is God inviting me to trust Him more
deeply?
- How have I experienced God's mercy in my
life?
- Is there a person or situation that I need
to continue placing before God in prayer?
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Amen.
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