August 16, 2026.
“But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Mathew 15, 25-28)
This week’s Gospel offers us the example of a woman who asks Jesus to cure her daughter. Although the Lord – strangely and to test her faith – compared her to a dog, she did not respond with anger and continued insisting with humility. This humility was what opened the heart of Jesus and obtained the miracle.
We are, then, before an example of how our prayers should be: persistent and humble. We frequently ask God for things, after a while – sometimes even a little while – we stop asking; at the bottom it is that they didn’t really matter much to us. We also frequently, more than ask demand; we behave before God not as before the Lord but as before a servant. We treat God as if he were at our service and as if His principal obligation were to satisfy our desires. Without humility prayer is impossible, including that of asking. He who is humble knows that what he asks for is a gift, something which he does not have a right to and, as such, doesn’t get angry if he doesn’t get it. If it is given, one is grateful; if it isn’t given, accept the mystery and be grateful for the rest of the wonderful things God has given. If we ask this way surely we will be given more and, in any case, what we don’t get will not be reason for a crisis of faith, as happens to those who withdraw from God when He doesn’t give what the ask.
Intention: Analyze well what we need to ask for, to persist. And later ask humbly, telling the Lord that we are not going to stray from his side if we don’t get it.