20th Sunday. Year A.

WE ARE CALLED TO IMITATE MODELS OF FAITH AND SO BECOME MODELS OF FAITH OURSELVES.

As a matter of fact, there are many models of faith that we can mention. A very important personality is Abraham our father in faith. One whose exemplary life of faith will continue to remain relevant for a very long period of time. His life shows us that a lot of patience, dedication and faithfulness is required to be men and women of great faith.

Our Gospel reading also presents us with another example of someone who can be regarded as a model of faith for us.  One whose is a Canaanite, (The Jews believed there is salvation for these people)  not even part of the 'chosen Israel' and to make matters worse,  she is even a woman.(Women weren't taken as important as the men. One may not even use a woman as a witness in the court of law, if you do,  be sure to lose the case,  because their testimonies were not taken serious at all. In fact an average Jewish man prays every morning like this. "God,  I thank you for not making me a gentile and for not making me a woman."

So dear friends in Christ, you can imagine the kind of situation the woman in our Gospel today found herself. But not minding all those things,  she against all odds decided to approach Jesus.

ONE IMPORTANT LESSON: Faith is a decision. Prayer is also a decision. Prayer with faith is also a decision. You need to make up your mind. There is no two ways about it. You are either here or there  I think I should pray.  Maybe I should pray.  Can I go for Mass or for confession?  There should be no time for such beating-about-the-bush questions
To be closer to God you need to make important decisions in your life.  Abandon all that will hinder you.  DECIDE to do away with them all just as the woman did in today's Gospel not minding anything that could hinder her. 
Decide today.  If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything. Every choice you make has an end result.  Make the right choice today.  Don't let your sin or bad thought hinder you.

PERSISTENCE
Even when Christ told the woman was trying to test the woman's faith and even called her dog, she didn't relent.  She persisted.

 Many times Jesus will test our faith to see how determined we are. This is also a test of how persistent we are. Do we really want what we are asking for? As human beings there is a tendency for us to expect that all we ask for will be given right away. But we have to realize that God will give what we ask for in His time and not ours.. So we have to labor also and not stop asking if we really need something from Him. We have to hound heaven to answer our prayers. We have to learn how to wait, to be patient and not to demand. We are humble servants of God and we have to learn the meaning of "Thy will be done." It is all up to God.
 But we know that we have a God who is merciful, who loves us. He came into this world to give us life, to save us. Reflect on the experience of the Canaanite woman. She never stopped pleading her cause and the loving and merciful Jesus granted her wish because of her faith.
This made Jesus the breaker of useless barriers
JESUS: THE BREAKER OF UNNECESSARY BARRIERS.

The first and second readings both talk about the universality of God's salvation.  Jesus broke the barrier that kept the gentiles out of the salvation of God. God's salvation is open to all. (1 Timothy 2:4).

Jesus is wonderful breaker of useless barriers. Barriers that are blocking your salvation or progress in life.  Jesus wants to break them and they will be broken if you DECIDE to take them all to Him.

GOD BLESS YOU.

HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU.