+ It is interesting in our first reading today from the book of
Genesis how God creates animals first to be a companion to the man
that he created, and then only after the man was still lonely he created woman
to complete him and to take away the loneliness.
Loneliness is hell. Companionship
with ones like ourselves, though in complementary ways, is paradise.
In the gospel passage Jesus
evokes an unusual response of insight and faith by the woman whom he quite
frankly insulted by comparing her to a dog. But perhaps both knew that that
comparison was not as harsh as it sounds today: after all animals were still
held very much in high esteem at the time this scene took place.
The woman knew she was being
tested in order to obtain from the Lord what she needed not for herself, but for
another; and so Jesus rewards her by granting her request and holding her up
for admiration in a lesson of deep humility for all ages.
When the Lord tests us – may
we read correctly into the situation – may we not jump to conclusions, as
humans seem to be programmed to do – and may we then enjoy the generous
response of the Lord as he grants our requests that come from our hearts,
especially when we pray them for other people: people in great need, people who
need hope in their lives, people who need peace in their lives.
How
blessed are those men and women and children who fear the Lord! – in
the best and most productive sense!
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