Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Arnold Biago SVD – Kinshasa, Congo
Thursday 5th Week in Ordinary Time
In Matthew 15:24, Jesus declared what his mission was, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Since the focus of Jesus’s ministry was his fellow Jews, attending to the needs of a foreigner like the Greek woman deemed ironic “For it is not right to take the food of children and throw it to the dogs.” (Mark 7,27)
The whole story in our Gospel today however illustrates how Jesus went beyond what was expected of him, how he went the extra mile to attend to the pleadings of a foreigner. By going this extra mile, Jesus refocused his mission. His ministry was not only for Israel but for all. Jesus was opening the door of grace to flow to all.
Often in life, occasions call us to refocus our goals and pose a challenge to go the extra mile, that is, to include in our concern not only the welfare of our families but also that of co-workers, fellow Filipinos, and even people unknown to us.
Indeed, man is not an island, alone and isolated. We share this one planet with the rest of humanity. May our actions and decisions assure not only personal and familial well-being but also that of others.
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