Do we notice God’s loving presence in our lives? Are we open to what God truly wants to give us? Saint Paul reminds us of God’s promise: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Today’s Gospel shows how powerful it is to pray for one another. This is called intercessory prayer. In the story, the Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter from a demon.

One line in the story stood out to me: “But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.” This happened after the Canaanite woman cried out to Jesus for mercy. I think of times in my own faith when God seemed silent. Over time, I’ve realized these moments help me grow. Everything grows in silence, like a baby in the womb or a seed in the soil. These quiet moments are part of God’s work. I’ve also learned that when prayers seem unanswered, God may be helping us discover what we truly desire. In the silence, do we keep seeking him? Do we wait for him? Or do we try to solve things on our own? God sometimes gives us silence to help us grow and become more patient.

Jesus tells his disciples that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. I have often felt lost in my own faith, but this story reminds me that we are never far from God. We should always seek God. When I feel spiritually steady, I am called to help those who feel left out and walk with them toward Jesus.

Finally, Jesus tells the woman that she is a person of great faith. This is a very different response from last week’s story with Peter drowning on the water, for Peter was the one with little faith. He lost sight of Jesus and focused on the waves rather than on Christ. The Canaanite woman was a woman of great faith who never lost sight of Christ and pursued him. Her faith healed her daughter of the demon. Let’s try to be people of strong faith and surround ourselves with others who have it too. These people can guide us through life’s dark times and help us find our way to God.