Homily for eighteenth week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th August, 2021. The Memorial of St John Vianney

 Homily for eighteenth week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th August, 2021. The Memorial of St John Vianney.

Readings: Num. 13:1-2.25-14:1.26-29.34-35; Ps. 106; Matt. 15:21-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE WOMAN OF GREAT FAITH

In our society today, most people hardly accept who they are. Today people spent all their resources and energy trying to convince others of what they are not by seeking their approval. This is not the same with the Canaanite woman in our Gospel passage today, who when approached Jesus pleading for the restoration of her daughter was not discouraged because her request was not granted immediately in reference to her humble background. 

For Jesus said to her  ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman persisted, kneeling at his feet saying. ‘Lord help me.’ Jesus replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

From this little story, it is clear that the woman was not going to give up, but kept pleading, even from her Canaanite background, to the point of Jesus recognizing her great faith. The irony of this passage is that, in Israel Jesus was trying to convince people that he was the Messiah, as he was being challenged to prove it with a sign. But here in Gentile territory he met a woman who was convinced he was the Messiah and he could not discourage her efforts. 

For his apparent attempt to put her off was just a test, of which her great faith was proven by the acceptance of her humble background. She accepted the place of a “dog” as a Gentile in relation to Israelites been the chosen children of God to whom the message and grace of the Messiah came first. Hence she accepted that she may not be able to sit down at the Messiah’s table and eat with the “children,” but she should be allowed to pick up some of the crumbs of unmerited mercy and grace of God for the sake of her daughter. 

Dear friends, we must stop wasting valuable time trying to prove who we are not, let us first in faith accept who we are then, work hard to improve who we want to be in relation to our faith in God. Let our faith in God help us to accept who we are. Whatever we want to do, let us have faith in God and in ourselves, and be determined because, faith, determination and sacrifice are the secrets of any success in life. Therefore, tell yourself today that you can get that which you desire, plan for it, work everyday for it, you will begin to see a different face in the things you do. The truth is that people are rewarded in public for things they do for years in private. 

So, let us learn from the Canaanite  and John Mary Vianney, whose memorial we celebrate today, for they accepted who they were and were determined with faith to achieve their dreams through humility and persistence. Therefore, like John Mary Vianney, let us cultivate the right disposition of heart that will make us to be visionary leaders leading those entrusted to us safely towards the path of truth and life. For through his life of holiness, preaching, prayer and penance he was able to transformed the life of the people of his time.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are often very slow to accept who we are and sometimes because of our humble background we fail to obtain what we desire. As we come to you today in humility and faith like the Canaanites woman, may we obtain your grace and favours just like John Mary Vianney. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.