GOSPEL REFLECTION, WEDNESDAY, 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 5 AUGUST 2026

Matthew 15:21-28. In Monday’s gospel reading Jesus approached the disciples over a stormy sea of Galilee, walking on the water. The disciples in a boat were much concerned because the sea had become so stormy. Jesus invited Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water towards him, but Peter began to sink, crying out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus caught him and saved him, saying to Peter, “you of little faith, why did you doubt?” – not NO faith, but LITTLE faith. In today’s gospel reading, by contrast, Jesus encountered a Canaanite woman who persistently begged Jesus as “Lord … sir, Son of David,” to help her daughter who was ‘tormented by a demon.’ She was a Canaanite, not Jewish, in an area outside Jewish territory. But Jesus had already claimed that his ministry was first of all to the people of Israel, so Jesus tested her faith, but still she persisted. Jesus finally declared, “woman, GREAT is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish,” and her daughter was healed instantly despite all the barriers to her as a stranger.

What we have here is a gospel demonstration, of two things: that perseverant prayer is an act of considerable faith, despite all odds; and that faith in us can experience growth, from little faith to great faith. I hesitate to use the word ‘progress’ in faith, because that word comes to us with a variety of attached meanings and assumptions which are not appropriate here. Jesus and the gospel speak of GROWTH in faith and in spirituality in many places. We need only recall his parable about the seed as the Word of God falling on barren ground and on fertile ground. The seed GREW on the fertile ground to produce a great harvest and withered on the barren ground. The opposite of faith is indifference. We may grow in faith, in commitment and fidelity to the Word of God and to the Kingdom of God as Jesus proclaimed, but there may be moments on the way when we experience some turmoil or difficulty on our part, but the key to committed faith, to growing in faith and trust in the Lord is to persevere in prayer despite all of that. The Canaanite woman affirms that.