9 August 2017
Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Lord had promised the Land to the children of Israel, but at the first sight of the intimidating inhabitants, the Israelites despaired of ever living there. Again, this despair is quite irrational given the workings of Providence which the Israelites had seen up until then. Irrational despair leads to inaction, and here in the book of Numbers it proves to be its own punishment. Rather than inhabiting the Promised Land, the children of Israel will wander away from their future home for generations, preferring the desert to confidence in the Lord.
In contrast to this, we have the example of the Canaanite woman. She perseveres in her trust in Christ even when he challenges her confidence. It is through His challenge that the greatness of her faith, the faith of a Canaanite, is made evident to the disciples. It is her trust in the care of Jesus, even when it appeared that He would not help, that allows for others to see the power of Christ at work in those who believe in Him. Today, let us pray for such trust in God’s love for us, even when life calls for a remarkable perseverance in that trust. Then we will not only leave room for the workings of Divine Providence in our lives, but will be witnesses of God’s love to the world.