Gospel Reading for February 13, 2025 – Mark 7: 24-30
HUMILITY
Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
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It was not just great faith, that the Syrophoenician woman had in Jesus. She BEGGED him to drive the demon out of her daughter. She did not mind that Jesus at first, did not think he should help her, because he knew that he was sent to the people of Israel, and not to those considered by the Jews, “pagans.” But, the woman showed great HUMILITY and her prayer was granted.
One very essential aspect of prayer is HUMILITY. It is the attitude that recognizes we are in need and are totally dependent on God.
Let us reflect on the refrain of the song, YOU ARE MOST BEAUTIFUL –
You are most beautiful!
You are most wonderful!
You’re everything I need to help me through the day!
You are most marvelous!
Your love just overflows!
And every breath I take, comes only from you, Lord!
