The first reading this weekend reminds us that even though the Jews are God’s chosen people, foreigners who love the Lord will be accepted into God’s house. So why is Jesus being so difficult with the Canaanite woman?
At first, he seems to be putting her off. He doesn’t answer her but tells the disciples that he came only for lost sheep of Israel, adding the remark about food going to the dogs. He does this not to discourage her, but to draw a response of faith. He wants to see how persistent she is in her request.
We can tell ourselves that we are people of faith, but how easily are we discouraged? Do we think God has forgotten us when we experience trouble? Sometimes it is our childish belief that everything must go our way. We may not be selfish about it; we may be discouraged by the suffering of someone we love. The woman’s clever reply to Jesus reminds us that she trusted in Jesus’ power and willingness to help.
Jesus was also teaching his disciples that faith is more important than nationality. They were all Jews and wanted Jesus to send the Canaanite woman away. Long after Jesus’ resurrection, the church struggled with the question of non-Jewish believers. Today, we may be doing the same thing in reverse. Some people think that only Catholics can be saved and that there is no hope for Protestants, much less for Jews. God’s covenant with the chosen people cannot be rescinded. Paul says that the rejection of Jesus by Jewish leaders led to salvation for the rest of the world. But though some rejected Jesus, God never rejected the Jews.
Finally, Jesus responded to her persistence. Like the woman who wouldn’t go away, we can keep praying until we get an answer to our prayer. While sometimes our request is granted, sometimes God has a good reason to delay or even say no. The more time we spend in prayer, the more likely we are to listen to God’s answer. Prayer can help us come to the peaceful acceptance that God only does what is best for us. -Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications
The Story of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday, August 22nd
Pope Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But the Blessed Virgin Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, she is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king had great influence in court.
In the 4th century, Saint Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen.” Later Church fathers and doctors continued to use the title. Hymns of the 11th to 13th centuries address Mary as queen. The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown as well as numerous invocations in Mary’s litany celebrate her queenship.
The feast is a logical follow-up to the Assumption and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast. In his 1954 encyclical To the Queen of Heaven, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection, and because of her intercessory power.
As Jesus exercised his kingship on earth by serving his Father and his fellow human beings, so did Mary exercise her queenship. As the glorified Jesus remains with us as our king till the end of time (Matthew 28:20), so does Mary, who was assumed into heaven and crowned queen of heaven and earth.
Our School
Join Our Parish
Online Giving