God desires to bring all people to Himself. He chose the Hebrews specially, but, as the reading from the prophet Isaiah describes, He also wants to bring others to Himself, like the Gentiles. In the context of Isaiah's time, and Jesus's time, too, the Hebrews were hesitant to let others be part of God's Chosen People.
Yet God makes clear that what counts is faith that earnestll seeks Him, and is pleasing to Him.
St. Paul reflects on His ministry to the Gentiles in the 2nd reading, which he focused on after the Jews rejected His message. Many Gentiles came to faith as a result of St. Paul's turning focus toward them, and St. Paul hopes that faith among the Gentiles will turn the Jews to faith, too.
And then there's the Canaanite woman in the Gospel reading, which is one of my favorite stories. This woman pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter, and is not deterred when Jesus doesn't give a favorable response, first ignoring her, then stating He came only for Israel, and then likening her to a dog. I really like the comeback line she gives to that final statement from Jesus, because she plays upon His metaphor, and thus demonstrates her deep faith: She believes that Jesus was sent as Savior to Israel, a reality that will benefit people of all other nations.
Let us be filled with the same earnest faith as this woman, and keep seeking after God. Let's persevere in relationship with Him, even if our prayers don't bring the answers that we desire. May our prayers draw us closer into relationship with God, knowing He will answer, acknowledging and affirming us for faith that seeks to be well-pleasing to Him. And may our hearts, like God's heart, be open to accepting all others who demonstrate that same faith, as we join together to be truly one united people of God.
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