The Gospel for Wednesday of the 18th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Matthew 15:21 28 verse at that time Jesus withdrew to a region of Tyre and Sidon, and behold, a Canaanite woman on that district came and called out, have pity on me, Lord, son of David, my daughter is tormented by a demon. But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, send her away, for she keeps calling out after us. He said in reply, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But the woman came and did him homage, saying, lord, help me. He said in reply, it is not right to take the food of children and throw it to the dogs.

She said, please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus said to her in reply, o woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you wish. And her daughter was healed from that hour we will always deal with a kind of self centeredness that creeps into our conversation, into what we’re doing or saying. And sometimes we find ourselves criticizing without even reflecting. And we know that that is normal.

We are always both fully human and also infused with divinity, and one does not override the other. Please take a few moments to reflect upon the thoughts that I’ve offered in these reflections, and then I will offer a closing prayer. The Closing Prayer Father, give us patience as you work to transform us into who youo call us to be. We will always find ourselves slipping backwards, being less than we should be. But don’t let that discourage us. Give us confidence in the direction youn’re calling us to live.

And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.