Thursday, February 9 : Saint John Chrysostom

A Canaanite woman came to Jesus begging his help. Most urgently she cried out on behalf of her daughter, who was possessed by a devil (…) Notice that the woman was a foreigner, a gentile, a person from outside the Jewish community. What was she, then, but a dog, unworthy to obtain her request? “It is not fair,” said Jesus, “to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.” Nevertheless, by perseverance she became worthy to have her prayers answered. For Jesus not only admitted her to the same noble rank as the children, dog though she was, but he also sent her away with high praise, saying: “Woman, you have great faith. Let it be as you desire.” Now when Christ says: “You have great faith”, you need seek no further proof of the woman’s greatness of soul. You see that an unworthy woman became worthy by perseverance. And note, too, that we shall gain more by praying ourselves than by asking others to pray for us.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team