A PREAYER THAT STRUGGLES AND PERSEVERES

THE PRAYER THAT STRUGGLES AND PERSEVERES:

(1) The Woman of Tyre-Sidon who constantly begged our Lord Jesus to heal her daughter from an evil spirit. The Lord replied that it is not proper that the bread be fed to the dogs because the bread is meant for the Children. Take note that the woman was Canaanite, not Israelite. And at the time the Jews looked down on Canaanites as pagans. But the woman undaunted by the insult, even humbled herself all the more, and said, "Lord, even the dogs eat the crumbs." There and then our Lord was moved by this singular act of faith and to her assurance, the Lord said: Go in Peace your daughter is healed and at that instant her daughter was healed.

(2) A centurion once asked Jesus to heal his servant who was sick. The Centurion is a man of authority having in his command a thousand soldiers. Jesus told the centurion, I will go to your house and heal your servant. The Centurion, despite of his authority and stature, replied. "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but simply say the word and my servant shall be healed." The Lord was amazed, and He exclaimed, I have never seen such kind of faith, not even in Israel (n.b. the Centurion was Roman and not Israelite, which shows that even Gentiles like the centurion can be so animated by faith). Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your servant is healed." Today the faith of this Centurion is immortalized in the Canon of the Mass. Each time the Priest elevates the Host he says, "This is the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world, happy are we who are called to this supper." and we reply, " Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." May the Body and Blood of Christ bring us to everlasting life.