First reading
Numbers 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35
The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Paran and said, ‘Send out men, one from each tribe, to make a reconnaissance of this land of Canaan which I am giving to the sons of Israel. Send the leader of each tribe.’
At the end of forty days, they came back from their reconnaissance of the land. They sought out Moses, Aaron and the whole community of Israel, in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They made their report to them, and to the whole community, and showed them the produce of the country.
They told them this story, ‘We went into the land to which you sent us. It does indeed flow with milk and honey; this is its produce. At the same time, its inhabitants are a powerful people; the towns are fortified and very big; yes, and we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekite holds the Negeb area, the Hittite, Amorite and Jebusite the highlands, and the Canaanite the sea coast and the banks of the Jordan.’
Caleb harangued the people gathered about Moses: ‘We must march in,’ he said ‘and conquer this land: we are well able to do it.’ But the men who had gone up with him answered, ‘We are not able to march against this people; they are stronger than we are.’ And they began to disparage the country they had reconnoitred to the sons of Israel, ‘The country we went to reconnoitre is a country that devours its inhabitants. Every man we saw there was of enormous size. Yes, and we saw giants there (the sons of Anak, descendants of the Giants). We felt like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.’
At this, the whole community raised their voices and cried aloud, and the people wailed all that night.
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said: ‘I have heard the complaints which the sons of Israel make against me. Say to them, “As I live – it is the Lord who speaks – I will deal with you according to the very words you have used in my hearing. In this wilderness your dead bodies will fall, all you men of the census, all you who were numbered from the age of twenty years and over, you who have complained against me. For forty days you reconnoitred the land. Each day shall count for a year: for forty years you shall bear the burden of your sins, and you shall learn what it means to reject me.” I, the Lord, have spoken: this is how I will deal with this perverse community that has conspired against me. Here in this wilderness, to the last man, they shall die.’ The word of the Lord!
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 105(106):6-7,13-14,21-23Gospel
Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again. The gospel of the Lord!
Reflection
What task lies ahead? How mountainous is it? What is holding you back from achieving your goal(s)? Are there giants involved, men of high positions or power, difficult or vicious men, physical or spiritual? Remember that one with God is in the majority – 1 King 18: 19-22; 2 King 6:14-17.
You might have noticed by now that the journey of the Israelites to the promised land experienced one form of complaintt or the other. The issue wasn’t the complaint but the lack of faith or trust in God that was laced in the complaints. Today, the Israelites have before them the land of Canaan, the promised land, but they are weakened by fear and lack of faith in God. Before them is the final task ahead, but they lack the faith to see it to completion. Unfortunately, they are punished and cursed for not approaching the task properly.
In the gospel, the canaanite woman shows great faith. She trusts in the power of the God the Israelites fail to believe in. Despite the opposition, negligence, and discouragement, her resolve to receive her blessing and cure her daughter is fueled by faith. Jesus appreciates a show of faith; prayers said through faith and humility are answered (Psalm 51:17). The power or force of the whole army cannot cure a sick person or cast out the devil from the possessed, but there is a force and power greater than any other – Jesus Christ. was be-laboured There is no need to pray if you don’t have faith!
Has it ever crossed your mind that we are on a journey too? A journey from birth to death; from earth to heaven; a journey laced with a lot of challenges, trying times and moments of faith. When you have a task ahead what do you do? Are you easily discouraged by the frightening circumstances around you? Do you throw in the towel before you begin. Are you always complaining at every stage, refusing to experience the grace and power of God in your plan and purpose? Or do you complain, refusing to acknowledge that God is greater than who/whatever may lie ahead of you? We must march in, as Caleb advised, of course with faith; He that is in/with me is greater than whoever or whatever lies ahead. Match the task ahead with faith!
Prayer
Heavenly father, you are God alone and you alone are God; I worship you! You are the Lord of Host! Thank you for today and all that today brings. As I prepare for the task ahead, I require your wisdom to plan perfectly and faith to follow through. May your angels fight my course as I pronounce victory in my situation in Jesus name I pray, Amen!