As the Church marks the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jenny Kraska reflects on the theme: “Good luck ignoring mom!”
By Jenny Kraska
In the Gospel we encounter one of the most remarkable examples of faith in all of Scripture. A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus with a desperate plea: “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” Her request springs from a mother’s heart. She is not asking for herself but for her child.
At first, the response she receives is not encouraging. Jesus seems silent. The disciples want to send her away. Even when Jesus speaks, His words appear to place a barrier before her. Yet she refuses to be discouraged. She persists. She trusts that His mercy is greater than any obstacles. Finally, Jesus responds with admiration: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” Her daughter is healed that very hour.
Later this month the Church celebrates the feast of St. Monica, another mother whose faith would not let go. Monica spent years praying for the conversion of her son Augustine. She watched him drift from the faith, embrace false philosophies, and live a life far removed from the Gospel she cherished. She knew the anguish of seeing a beloved child wander from the path of truth.
Like the Canaanite woman, Monica encountered moments that must have felt like silence. Years passed. Her prayers seemed unanswered. Yet she refused to surrender hope. Her tears became prayers. Her prayers became perseverance. Her perseverance became one of the most powerful testimonies in Christian history.
The conversion of St. Augustine reminds us that God often works according to a timetable different from our own. Monica did not receive an immediate answer, but she remained steadfast. In time, her son became not only a Christian but one of the greatest saints, theologians, and doctors of the Church.
Both women reveal something profound about the nature of love. True love does not abandon the beloved when difficulties arise. It continues to hope, to pray, and to trust. Their love reflects the maternal heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At Cana, Mary interceded for a young couple in need. At Calvary, she stood faithfully beneath the Cross of her Son. As Mother of the Church, she continues to bring our needs before Christ with unwavering confidence.
Many parents and grandparents today carry the same burden as Monica and the Canaanite woman. They pray for children who have drifted from the faith, struggle with addiction, suffer from illness, or carry wounds that seem beyond healing. This Gospel offers encouragement to all who pray with aching hearts. God hears every prayer. No tears shed in love are wasted. No petition offered in faith goes unnoticed.
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