THURSDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 7:24-30) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps.” (Mk 7:28)

FIRST READING - Genesis 2:18-25

A reading from the Book of Genesis

The LORD God said:

"It is not good for the man to be alone.

I will make a suitable partner for him."

So the LORD God formed out of the ground

various wild animals and various birds of the air,

and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;

whatever the man called each of them would be its name.

The man gave names to all the cattle,

all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals;

but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.

So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,

and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs

and closed up its place with flesh.

The LORD God then built up into a woman

the rib that he had taken from the man.

When he brought her to the man, the man said:

"This one, at last, is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

this one shall be called 'woman,'

for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."

That is why a man leaves his father and mother

and clings to his wife,

and the two of them become one flesh.

The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mark 7:24-30

From the Gospel according to Mark

Jesus went to the district of Tyre.

He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,

but he could not escape notice.

Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.

She came and fell at his feet.

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,

and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.

He said to her, "Let the children be fed first.

For it is not right to take the food of the children

and throw it to the dogs."

She replied and said to him,

"Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps."

Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go.

The demon has gone out of your daughter."

When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed

and the demon gone.

THURSDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 7:24-30)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today's Word of God, God the Father calls on all humanity to live with faith from the inside out, not only with faith on our lips. God the Father knows everything about the lives of mankind—He knows how people live, even from afar.

It is therefore God the Father's desire that we live honestly before Him and before our brothers and sisters. God the Father is the Creator of mankind, and He knows everything about humans— from our thoughts, words, and deeds. How can we live in such a way to please God the Father?

God the Father uses the image of a woman whose daughter is possessed by a demon in today's Word of God to teach us to show mercy to others. She tried every way to ask Jesus to heal her daughter when she was possessed by a demon. And having absolute faith in Him, she received His mercy.

In today's Word of God, God the Father also calls on all humanity to be merciful, just as He is merciful. We are called to show love and mercy to our brothers and sisters, specifically having complete faith in God the Father, and believing that all things are possible to Him. When we call upon the holy name of God and strive to please Him, He will bestow all blessings.

God the Father calls on everyone to live with absolute faith and loyalty to Him because He knows everything about mankind. No one can hide from God the Father. Therefore, be alert and wise to live truthfully with God the Father and our brothers and sisters. When we do this, our prayers will be answered by God, and our prayers will please Him.

God the Father does not want mankind to fall into Satan's temptation and doubt when praying to Him. God the Father wants humans to understand that such doubt is an attack from Satan, they want to separate us from God. Satan will plant seeds of doubt between humans and God and between our prayers and God the Father.

God the Father wants mankind to always be aware that He will never abandon humanity if we know how to be humble, self-abasement, simple, and have absolute faith that He is the One who is rich in mercy. He is the One who provides and cares for all children who know to return to Him and ask for His mercy for our bodies and souls. Believe that He will graciously accept and listen to our prayers.

Thanks be to God. Amen.