Aug 9 – Memorial for St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), martyr
After witnessing the strength of faith of Catholic friends, Teresa (1891-1942), originally a Jew, became interested in Catholicism and studied a catechism on her own, and she eventually ended up ‘reading herself into’ the Faith.
She became a Carmelite nun, teaching and lecturing at two schools. However, anti-Jewish pressure from the Nazis forced her to resign both positions. She was smuggled out of Germany and assigned to Holland. When the Nazis invaded Holland, she and her sister Rose, also a convert to Catholicism, were captured and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz where they died in the ovens, like so many others.
– Patron Saint Index
Num 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35
Mt 15:21-28
“Let your wish be granted.”
In today’s first reading, God told Moses to send spies to Canaan and to gather intelligence before they fought to take possession of the land. After 40 days, the spies returned. They reported that the enemies were huge and formidable. Now the Israelites KNEW that God was with them. He is all powerful. They witnessed how he vanquished the mighty Egyptian army. Yet at that moment, they lost their trust and faith in God. They did not want to fight and even wanted to stone Moses and Aaron. God was disgusted with their contempt of Him. Obviously, the Israelites were punished with another 40 years of wandering in the desert.
Contrast this sorry episode to the Gospel reading. A Canaanite woman came to beg Jesus to heal her daughter. The Canaanites were the enemies of the Jews. Their pagan beliefs were diametrically opposite to the Jewish religion. If anyone was justified to reject Jesus or not have any faith in him, it was her. Yet, she believed. She persevered, even when told “it is not right to take children’s bread and toss it to the dogs”. This was the strongest insult. She remained steadfast in her faith, which prompted Jesus to heal her daughter and remark, “you have great faith”.
Matthew’s gospel records two instances where Jesus remarked upon the greatness of another’s faith — today’s story and the Roman centurion, who sent messengers to ask Jesus to heal his servant. “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word” is now part of our communion rite.
What irony! God’s chosen people had little faith in God while the Gentiles (as represented by the Canaanite woman and centurion) possessed such great faith.
Recently, I met a new lector who reads for the 7am mass in my parish. In her mid twenties, she was recently baptised in another parish this Easter. Her parents are Buddhist but she went to a local convent school. In 2019, she went for a holiday in Rome with her Catholic aunt where she managed to attend mass in Latin by Pope Francis. Though she did not understand a word, she was so moved that she cried. Certainty, the Holy Spirit touched her heart deeply. That inspired her journey to the faith. She recounted to me that she loves reading the word of God, so she quickly joined the lector ministry after she was baptised. She lives near the eastern part of Singapore but wakes up before 6am to come and read at the 7am mass at my parish, which is about 45 mins away. Such amazing faith indeed!
How ironic that this new sister’s faith journey reflects a faith that is stronger than mine. I will certainly try my best grow in faith and improve.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Andrew Sia)
Prayer: Lord, help us Catholics to have great faith in you, like the Canaanite woman or the Roman centurion.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for sending to us people whom you have touched deeply.
OXYGEN 
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