Called to Act in God's Name
The Canaanite woman is one gutsy gal. Unnamed, outcast, a foreigner, a woman, she stands for us as a model for faith and faith-filled prayer. Her prayer comes from a deep recognition of who she is and upon whom it is she is calling. Her prayer is "grounded" in humility (from humus, "of the earth/dust"). Her intercession is made not on her own behalf, but on behalf of her sick and tortured child. Her prayer is simple, to the point, and brooks no misinterpretation: "Lord, help me!" No matter that she is one of Israel's outcasts, she calls upon Jesus to "observe what is right, do what is just" (Isaiah 56:1).
The woman's faith is strong. That makes her prayer persistent. Neither she nor it will be rebuffed. She calls to mind the words of Saint Paul, "There does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freeman, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Here, in the middle of Matthew's Gospel, the Canaanite woman serves as our representative, one of the many ordinary, unnamed, and outcast people, on behalf of whom, at the end of the Gospel, Jesus commands, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19).
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Llamados A Actuar en el Nombre de Dios
La mujer cananea es una mujer valiente. Sin nombre, marginada, extranjera, mujer, nos sirve de modelo de fe y de oración llena de fe. Su oración nace de un profundo reconocimiento de quién es y a quién invoca. Su oración está fundamentada en la humildad (del griego humus, “de la tierra/ polvo”). Su intercesión no es por sí misma, sino por su hijo enfermo y atormentado. Su oración es sencilla, directa y no admite interpretaciones erróneas: “¡Señor, ayúdame!”. A pesar de ser una de las marginadas de Israel, invoca a Jesús para que “observe lo que es justo y practique lo que es recto (Isaías 56:1).
La fe de la mujer es fuerte. Eso hace que su oración sea persistente. Ni ella ni su oración serán rechazadas. Ella evoca las palabras de San Pablo: “Entre vosotros no hay judío ni griego, esclavo ni libre, hombre ni mujer. Todos son uno en Cristo Jesús” (Gálatas 3:28). Aquí, en medio del Evangelio de Mateo, la mujer Cananea nos representa, una de las muchas personas comunes, anónimas y marginadas, en cuyo nombre, al final del Evangelio, Jesús ordena: “Por tanto, id y haced discípulos a todas las naciones” (Mateo 28:19).
Latest News
This is a bilingual page / Esta es una pagina bilingue
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Bulletin of August 16, 2026
- Called to Act in God's Name
- Registration for our Catechetical Program
- Taller de Oración y Vida
- Grupo de Oración
- New Men's Group Gospel Reflection "Two By Two"
- We are looking for Catechists
- Join our Women's Group this Fall
- Second Collection
- Sacrificial Giving
- Entering Canaan Day of Prayer and Healing for Women
- Pilgrimage to Lourdes & France with Father Sosa
- Vocation Awareness
- Archbishop's Charities and Development Drive 2026
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- The Importance of Church Registration
- Becoming a godparent/sponsor in the Catholic Church
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