Recently my goddaughter was sick with a fever and congestion that left her uncomfortable, not sleeping well, and her parents worried. After checking in with their doctor, my friend remarked that they were doing all they could to care for their daughter and how it didn’t feel like enough. She is back to full health now, but her mother felt great sadness and frustration not being able to relieve the suffering of her child.

I can vividly imagine the desperation of the mother in this Gospel story. A mother who has done everything to try to relieve the suffering of her daughter and in her anguish tries one last thing – to visit the Jew who is becoming known for miracles of healing. How many parents there are who can relate to this mother, desperate to relieve the great suffering of their children.

The Gentile woman in the Gospel today reminds us that we can come before Jesus with our needs and he will hear us in the authenticity of our faith. Jesus could have allowed the fact that this woman was a Gentile to be the reason he did not even consider her request. But Jesus could see the authenticity of her faith and that was all that was needed for Jesus.

Let us pray.

Good and gracious Jesus, you hear us in our prayers without needing us to be perfect. Instead, you desire the authenticity of our faith as we come to you with our needs. May we always come before you with our prayers. We pray especially for the parents whose children are suffering – that you might be close to them and respond to their prayers for healing. Amen.