Persistence and Never Give Up in Searching for God

by Fr. Elario Zambakari  |  08/16/2026  |  Weekly Reflection

Today’s gospel presents us with the story of a Canaanite woman who seeks Jesus’ help for her daughter who is under demonic influence. Jesus’ response and the woman’s faith challenge us on how to respond when we seek God’s assistance in moments of need, trial, and difficulty.

This woman’s love for her sick child of demonic influence is profound as this compels her to take the misery of her child as her own misery. The love she has for her child is a true reflection of God’s love for us his children. God makes our own misery his own and takes our challenges upon himself. It is because of this love that made her suffer the rebuffs and insults from the hand of Jesus. It was love which made her accept the silence from Jesus without minding, it was love which made her approach Jesus even when she knew within her herself that she was not qualified being a non-Jew. So, we can say that love for her child was the driving force in her heart and there is nothing stronger than this deep love in her heart for her child. In this way, it is this love that our Lord Jesus has for us his children that made him suffer the agony of the cross and finally gave his life for us.

Today’s liturgy invites us to accept all as our brothers and sisters. It brings to our minds that God’s salvation is for all. As the woman humbled and opened her heart to the Lord, the Lord helped her to grow in her faith. We have to be humbled and open ourselves to the Lord to help us grow in our faith. And through our faith, we proclaim the salvation of God to all without any distinction.