Today's gospel brings back these daily reflections after almost two weeks away ... in the beautiful islands of the 50th state.
Did you ever go to a dinner and find yourself looking at the presented meal, wondering will there be enough to go around? By the meal’s end, there was more than enough remaining on the serving plates! There was an abundance not expected.
This reminds me of the mystery of love with its wonder and awe as well as it misery. No one who has not loved can fully understand the seeming limitlessness of happiness that sharing love can bring to individuals. On the coin of love’s other side, there is pain that is so much deeper for one who loves another when the other finds him/herself in serious difficulties or pains.
We have been told time and again that Jesus loves us beyond our imagination or expectation. We can experience that love if we but ask. This is the belief that the Canaanite woman held in her heart. She saw something in this foreigner, Jesus. Culture would have it that she should not approach this Judean man for anything. But, seemingly, she saw in the eyes of Jesus much more than just another Judean. She needed help to cure her sick daughter. Looking into Jesus’ face she saw an abundance of love, enough to go around for herself, her daughter and many others. She must have considered love as the universal meal with more than enough for everyone. For her, nationality boundaries did not hold sway when it came to love.
This lady who was considered a foreigner teaches us that with God love is bountiful, so abundant that there is enough for everyone regardless of borders.
