By David Peter csc –
Readings: Num 13:1-2, 25- 14:1,26-29,34-35; Mt 15: 21-28
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. John Mary Vianney. The Church declared him as the model and patron of all parish priests.
Though he was poor in studies, he was rich in spiritual life. He spent many hours before the Blessed Sacrament and as a priest at confession. As we remember him today, let us reflect on the words of St. John Mary Vianney “Anything we do without offering to God, is wasted.”
The liturgy of the word invites us to look at our faith and trust in God. The first reading of the day reveals that the Israelites lacked faith and trust in God. God chose them as his people, but they failed to believe in him. This lack of faith and grumbling against God brought punishment and death to these people. In the gospel, we find that the Canaanite woman had strong faith in Jesus. The strong faith and persistence in prayer of the Canaanite woman brought healing and a new life to her daughter.
Today, let us examine our faith in Jesus. Is our faith in Jesus like that of the Israelites or the Canaanite woman? We realise that just like the Canaanite woman, St. John Mary Vianney too had strong faith and persistence in prayer for the conversion of his people who were entrusted to him for pastoral care. Let us ask the Lord to strengthen our faith in him so that we may not grumble and stand against God, but stand for God as true witness like the Canaanite woman and St. John Mary Vianney.