Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we have the passage of the Canaanite woman. The Gospel says: “behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, ‘Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!” This woman, who comes from a Gentile people, represents the Church coming from the Gentiles. When she says “Lord,” she is professing Christ as Lord and acknowledging His divinity. When she says “Son of David,” she is confessing Him as the promised Messiah, the Son of David, according to His humanity. Then she adds: “My daughter is tormented by a demon” This symbolizes the Church interceding for the Gentile nations, asking Christ to deliver them from the power of the devil. But Jesus did not answer her. He did not do this out of pride or indifference, for He knew what He was going to do. Rather, He allowed her to persevere in prayer, to manifest her faith more clearly, and also to draw forth the intercession of the Apostles.The disciples ask Him: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us” But He said: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” But is He not also the God and Savior of the rest of the world? Indeed He is. Our Lord says this deliberately, not to exclude the Gentiles from salvation, but to test and manifest the woman’s faith and perseverance. “But the woman came and did him homage, saying, ‘Lord, help me’” Despite what seemed to be a refusal, she continued to insist.Then He said in reply: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs” The children represent the people of Israel. The bread represents the Word of God. The dogs represent the Gentiles. The Jews commonly used the term “dogs” for pagans and idolaters. Yet Christ uses the diminutive expression, “little dogs,” which softens the harshness of the term.The woman does not contradict Him. Instead, she replies: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters” She humbles herself before the Lord and trusts that even the smallest grace from Him will be enough. She simply trusts in His goodness and power.

At this Jesus praises her faith: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” Her faith is like that of the Roman centurion, another Gentile (image of the Church) who became an example of extraordinary faith. When Jesus heard the centurion’s words, the Gospel says: “He was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.’”

Let us ask the Blessed Mother to obtain for us these three virtues from this woman:

1- Faith, because she believed that the Lord could heal her daughter;

2- Perseverance, because every time she seemed to be rejected, she pleaded all the more and refused to abandon her prayer and

3- Humility, because she accepted the Lord’s words without becoming discouraged or offended, and trusted that even the smallest grace from Him would be enough.

Fr. Gaston Giacinti, IVE

WEEKLY NEWS

Friday Adoration at Sacred Heart

Every Friday there is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Sacred Heart in reparation for the offences made to the Sacred Heart of Jesus from 1:00 to 6:00PM and confessions from 4:30 to 6:00PM.

Altar Boy Group at Sacred Heart

 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

“Voces Verbi” Youth Group

1^st Wednesdays of the month from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Rosary Group- Please join the Rosary group which meets every Thursday at 1:00 to pray the rosary for the needs of the Universal Church.

DIOCESAN &O THER NEWS

 Corn Roast – August 28th St. Peter the Apostle Parry Sound

 – Come hungry and leave with a full heart! Join us on Friday, August 28 for St. Peter the Apostle’s 2nd Annual Parish Corn Roast. Enjoy fresh corn on the cob, pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, dessert, live music, and great fellowship. Proceeds will support the capping of our stained-glass windows and the painting and repair of the church’s front columns. Tickets are on sale now at the Welcome Desk after Masses and at the parish office: $20 for adults, $10 for children 10 and under. We hope to see you there!