Persistance

One of the Gospel readings this week was from Mark, chapter 7. The story is about the Greek woman who wants Jesus to drive a demon from her daughter. At first Jesus, not so gently, tells her He will not help her: "It is not right to take the the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."

Wow! Harsh.

Her persistence pays off however. She tells Him, "Even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." And Jesus cures her daughter.

The meditation for the same day, in the Magnificat Magazine, was written by St. Claude de la Colombiere. St. Claude assures us that what Jesus wants is our persistence. Don't pray once and, if you don't get an answer, stop asking. Repeat yourself, relentlessly. This is pleasing to the Lord.

St. Claude says, "The more He seems to be unwilling, the more you must insist."

Do not fear to sound like a broken record. Do not fear that the Lord does not hear you. He wants us to trust Him even though it feels like nothing is happening. Something is happening. We are changing. We are learning to pray as He wants us to pray.

St. Claude finishes by saying, " Compel God to . . . say to you with admiration "Great is your faith, be it done as you wish."

Joyfully awaiting that response.