Reflection From

Fr. Davis

August 16, 2026

The Gospel passage which the Church offers us today may leave the reader a little disconcerted. Christ’s attitude towards this syro-phoenecian woman appears cold at first hand.

When she comes to Him requesting a miracle for her daughter, we are intrigued to see that He does not even respond. “But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her”, the Gospel tells us. Then, when she finally breaks to Him begging for her daughter, He answers what might sound to be mean words: “It is not right to take the bread of the children and give it to the dogs”.

Why did Christ react in this way? We know Him to be a kind and loving Saviour, one that never sent anyone away. He said of Himself, “And him that cometh to me, I will not cast out” (Jn 6:37). As such, we cannot believe that He acted in this way out of contempt for this woman. Rather, as a loving person, we must hold that He was trying to bring about some good.

The reason Christ reacted in this way to this woman was to increase her faith. He tested her, in a way: does she really believe that I am good, and loving, and that I have the power to do this? Will she believe, even if I act as if I am apparently uninterested or unwilling? This apparent attitude of opposition to helping the woman which we see in Our Lord was nothing more than an opportunity for her to make an even greater act of faith in His untireable goodness.

And the woman passed the test. She was so convinced that Christ, being a good and caring man, would grant her the favour, that she insisted confidently. Even from a place of humiliation, she trusted that Christ would hear her. And He did: because that was His intention all along.

The Lord sometimes doesn’t answer our prayers right away. The Lord sometimes tests our faith. Do we keep praying? Do we keep hoping, believing, loving? If we keep on, then our faith grows. And this is the greatest thing Christ can do for us: to increase our faith.

Father Arboleda

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