Confident Persistent Humble

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to adopt an attitude in our relationship to God that maintains our faith in seeking and receiving the most loving response to our needs.

Persist for Our Needs

The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah presents the people’s return from captivity as a second exodus

* [31:2–3] Jeremiah describes the exiles of the Northern Kingdom on their way home from the nations where the Assyrians had resettled them (722/721 B.C.). The favor they discover in the wilderness is the appearance of the Lord (v. 3) coming to guide them to Jerusalem. Implicit in these verses is the presentation of the people’s return from captivity as a second exodus, a unifying theme in Second Isaiah (chaps. 40–55). (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31 | USCCB, n.d.)

The response is also from Jeremiah 31.

h. [31:11] Is 44:23; 48:20.

i. [31:12] Is 58:11. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus heals in response to The Canaanite Woman’s Faith.

* [15:21–28] See note on Mt 8:5–13.

* [15:24] See note on Mt 10:5–6.

* [15:26] The children: the people of Israel. Dogs: see note on Mt 7:6.

* [15:28] As in the case of the cure of the centurion’s servant (Mt 8:10), Matthew ascribes Jesus’ granting the request to the woman’s great faith, a point not made equally explicit in the Marcan parallel (Mk 7:24–30). (Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Mother of the Gentiles,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century).

"After our Lord departed from the Jews, he came into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. He left the Jews behind and came to the Gentiles. Those whom he had left behind remained in ruin; those to whom he came obtained salvation in their alienation. And a woman came out of that territory and cried, saying to him, 'Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David!' O great mystery! The Lord came out from the Jews, and the woman came out from her Gentile territory. He left the Jews behind, and the woman left behind idolatry and an impious lifestyle. What they had lost, she found. The one whom they had denied in the law, she professed through her faith. This woman is the mother of the Gentiles, and she knew Christ through faith. Thus on behalf of her daughter (the Gentile people) she entreated the Lord. The daughter had been led astray by idolatry and sin and was severely possessed by a demon." (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 58) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler shares that the Prophet Jeremiah presents passages that are mostly a condemnation of the ways of the people of Judah. Today the theme is the opposite: God will restore the people even on the mountains of the North. This is during the Babylonial Exile and the northern region has been separated for centuries. The response of God is not vindictiveness not forgetting evil but inviting them to live in His love. A Canaanite woman petitions Jesus to heal her daughter. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has primarily come for the lost sheep of Israel even as Jesus hints of reaching out to the Gentiles. She is clever in her response to Him after comparing her to the dogs and her cleverness moved Jesus to recognize her faith. Friar Jude recommends insistence when we pray to push and be clever to receive what we truly need.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28 challenges us to assume that Jesus was testing this woman. How did she respond? And what can we learn from her?

Seeing this woman’s humility, persistence, and confidence, Jesus replied, “Great is your faith!” and healed her daughter on the spot (Matthew 15:28).

If you ever feel God is testing you, take this Canaanite woman as your model. Persist in your prayers. Hold onto your confidence in Jesus’ love. And remain humble and open to whatever answer you receive. Jesus knows exactly what you need.

“Lord, help me to place all my trust in you!” (Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28, n.d.)

The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major is commemorated today.

Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces one question which really matters: why do bad things happen to good people?

Rabbi Harold Kushner, through his classic exploration of the book of Job, (1935–2023) questions the common belief that God is all-powerful. Kushner describes the divine intimacy we can experience when we are released from the belief that God is responsible for our suffering:

We will be able to turn to God for things He can do to help us, instead of holding on to unrealistic expectations of Him which will never come about….

We can maintain our own self-respect and sense of goodness without having to feel that God has judged us and condemned us. We can be angry at what has happened to us, without feeling that we are angry at God. More than that, we can recognize our anger at life’s unfairness, our instinctive compassion at seeing people suffer, as coming from God who teaches us to be angry at injustice and to feel compassion for the afflicted. Instead of feeling that we are opposed to God, we can feel that our indignation is God’s anger at unfairness working through us, that when we cry out, we are still on God’s side, and He is still on ours.

Harold S. Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People (Schocken Books, 1981), (Rohr, 2025)

We celebrate the love and compassion of Christ and the truth that God offers care to all humanity as we persist in our petitions and desires to be spiritually open to the understanding that God is inviting us to Fullness of Life.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/31?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/15?21 

Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved Aug 5, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/08/05/1639922/ 

Rohr, R. (2025, September 11). Is God All Powerful? Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 5, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/is-god-all-powerful/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Great Is Your Faith! Be It Done for You as You Desire. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 5, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Care and Compassion

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our experience of real life loss and the need to re-work our reconnection to our community through the companionship of people who offer care in mourning.

Family and Remembrance

The Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah expresses the expectation that the Lord would reunite Israel and Judah as one kingdom under a just Davidic king.

* [30:1–31:40] These two chapters contain salvation oracles that originally expressed the double expectation that the Lord would return the exiled survivors of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and reunite Israel and Judah as one kingdom under a just Davidic king. They were probably composed early in Josiah’s reign (the reference of v. 9), when he took advantage of Assyria’s internal disintegration and asserted control over northern Israel (cf. 2 Kgs 23:15–17). With the destruction of Jerusalem, the oracles were re-worked to include Judah and their fulfillment along with the renewal of the Davidic dynasty became associated with the eschatological “day of the Lord.”

* [30:21] His leader: cf. v. 9. Approach me: i.e., in the sanctuary of the Temple for worship. This new David is given a priestly function to perform on behalf of the assembly. To approach God on one’s own brings death; cf. Lv 16:1–2. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 30 |USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 102 recalls God’s venerable promises to save the poor.

* [Psalm 102] A lament, one of the Penitential Psalms. The psalmist, experiencing psychological and bodily disintegration (Ps 102:4–12), cries out to God (Ps 102:1–3). In the Temple precincts where God has promised to be present, the psalmist recalls God’s venerable promises to save the poor (Ps 102:13–23). The final part (Ps 102:24–28) restates the original complaint and prayer, and emphasizes God’s eternity. (Psalms, PSALM 102 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew religious leaders ask why Jesus’ disciples are breaking the tradition of the elders.

* [15:2] The tradition of the elders: see note on Mk 7:5. The purpose of the handwashing was to remove defilement caused by contact with what was ritually unclean.

* [15:1–20] This dispute begins with the question of the Pharisees and scribes why Jesus’ disciples are breaking the tradition of the elders about washing one’s hands before eating (Mt 15:2). …Then with a wider audience (the crowd, Mt 15:10) he goes beyond the violation of tradition with which the dispute has started. The parable (Mt 15:11) is an attack on the Mosaic law concerning clean and unclean foods, similar to those antitheses that abrogate the law (Mt 5:31–32, 33–34, 38–39). After a warning to his disciples not to follow the moral guidance of the Pharisees (Mt 15:13–14)...

* [15:2] The tradition of the elders: see note on Mk 7:5. The purpose of the handwashing was to remove defilement caused by contact with what was ritually unclean.

* [15:13–14] Jesus leads his disciples away from the teaching authority of the Pharisees. (Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Keeping one's own heart with all watchfulness,” by Origen of Alexandria, 185-254 A.D.

"These things are what 'defiles the person' when they come out from the heart and, after they have gone out from it, go through the mouth. Thus if they did not occur outside of the heart but were held by the person somewhere around the heart, not being allowed to be spoken through the mouth, they would very quickly disappear and the person would not be defiled any longer. Therefore the source and beginning of every sin is 'evil reasonings.' For if these reasonings did not prevail, there would be neither murders nor acts of adultery nor any other of such things. Because of this each one ought to keep one's own heart with all watchfulness. (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.14-15) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler shares that the passage from Jeremiah is a lament on the woes of Israel that has not opened a way out of sin. So then God can restore them. He will restore and return them to what He wanted them to be purified and turn back to Him. The one planting will overcome the one harvesting. It will lead to a new Covenant. Jesus and disciples don’t wash before eating and the Pharisees and Scribes, who take the Law to its greatest extent, and wash hands before praying in the Temple also wash hands before eating. What goes into your mouth does not make you unclean. What you do externally means nothing. Superficial acts and not seeking to be transformed makes them Blind Guides not leading to truth. The final editor of the Gospel of Matthew is believed to be a converted Pharisee rejected as being connected to Jesus. Friar Jude suggests this might account for the number of passages where rejecting Pharisees is a means of getting back at his former friends?

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Hebrew Testament scholar Ellen Davis who points out that before Job’s friends launch into their lengthy speeches trying to justify Job’s suffering, their most compassionate action is to simply sit with him in his grief and suffering.

And they lifted up their eyes from a distance but could hardly recognize him. And they lifted up their voices and wept, and each one tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads into the air. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights without speaking a word to him, for they saw how great was his pain. (Job 2:12–13)

Those seven days of silence are surely one of the most influential acts of pastoral care ever performed. The Jewish practice of “sitting shiva” (literally “sitting seven,” when friends come to sit with mourners at home over the period of a week) memorializes the friends’ wise compassion in this long moment of shared grief. More than twenty-five hundred years after the book of Job was written, this one act of Job’s companions is imitated on a daily basis by comforters all over the world. Silence kept with others has a special quality. It is like a fine veil, preserving separateness, yet strangely heightening mutual awareness. Silence requires us to be present to the unexpressed needs of others, needs of which they may themselves not yet know. It is a powerful means of fostering mutual encouragement among us, whom God has entrusted to one another in this wilderness of pain and doubt. (Rohr, n.d.)

We are grateful for the comfort, counsel, and contemplation offered through the Spirit when we share the distress and concern of the people we encounter through our openness to join them in sorrow and to accompany their return to the rhythm of daily life.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 30 |USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/30?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/15? 

Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080426.cfm 

Psalms, PSALM 102 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/102?16 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Suffering and Silence. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/suffering-and-silence/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). It Is What Comes Out of the Mouth That Defiles. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Lament Suffering and Betrayal

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to persevere when our efforts to live as friends of Jesus are met with rejection and misunderstanding.

Love for Life Challenge

The Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah presents Jeremiah Threatened with Death.

a. [26:2] Jer 7:2.

b. [26:3] Jer 18:3.

c. [26:5] Jer 25:4.

d. [26:6] Jer 7:12, 14. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 69 is a lament complaining of suffering.

 

* [Psalm 69] A lament complaining of suffering in language both metaphorical (Ps 69:2–3, 15–16, the waters of chaos) and literal (Ps 69:4, 5, 9, 11–13, exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation). In the second part the psalmist prays with special emphasis that the enemies be punished for all to see (Ps 69:23–29). Despite the pain, the psalmist does not lose hope that all be set right, and promises public praise (Ps 69:30–36). The Psalm, which depicts the suffering of the innocent just person vividly, is cited often by the New Testament especially in the passion accounts, e.g., Ps 69:5 in Jn 15:25; Ps 69:22 in Mk 15:23, 36 and parallels and in Jn 19:29. The Psalm prays not so much for personal vengeance as for public vindication of God’s justice. There was, at this time, no belief in an afterlife where such vindication could take place. Redress had to take place now, in the sight of all. (Psalms, PSALM 69 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus' Rejection at Nazareth.

* [13:54–58] After the Sermon on the Mount the crowds are in admiring astonishment at Jesus’ teaching (Mt 7:28); here the astonishment is of those who take offense at him. Familiarity with his background and family leads them to regard him as pretentious. Matthew modifies his Marcan source (Mk 6:1–6). Jesus is not the carpenter but the carpenter’s son (Mt 13:55), “and among his own kin” is omitted (Mt 13:57), he did not work many mighty deeds in face of such unbelief (Mt 13:58) rather than the Marcan “…he was not able to perform any mighty deed there” (Mk 6:5), and there is no mention of his amazement at his townspeople’s lack of faith. (Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Sara Schulte-Bukowinski comments that before her Ignatian pilgrimage she was invited to participate in a group discernment conversation among partners of the Society. These Conversations in the Spirit happened all over the world amongst Jesuits and lay colleagues who collaborate in Jesuit works. The fruit of those conversations converged there in the Aula as the Universal Apostolic Preferences were discerned. This shared mission—its clarity and its openness to an uncertain future—is what moved me to tears.

On this Memorial of St. Ignatius I pray for the future of Jesuit Works and all who move them forward, for the Society of Jesus itself, for the entire Christian community, for the world, and also for myself as one pilgrim among many. May we learn from Ignatius what it means to hold the tension between clarity and uncertainty; confidence and humility. May we commit, recommit, and recommit yet again to the fundamental call of the Divine, with humble uncertainty about the details, making space for creativity, flexibility and sharing in God’s vision of a future we cannot imagine. (Schulte-Bukowinski, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes Few miracles done because of their unbelief, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

"It seems to me that the production of miracles is similar in some ways to the case of physical things. Cultivation is not sufficient to produce a harvest of fruits unless the soil, or rather the atmosphere, cooperates to this end. And the atmosphere of itself is not sufficient to produce a harvest without cultivation. The one who providentially orders creation did not design things to spring up from the earth without cultivation. Only in the first instance did he do so when he said, 'Let the earth bring forth vegetation, with the seed sowing according to its kind and according to its likeness' (Genesis 1:11). It is just this way in regard to the production of miracles. The complete work resulting in a healing is not displayed without those being healed exercising faith. Faith, of whatever quality it might be, does not produce a healing without divine power.' (excerpt from the COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 10.19) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects that in the reading from Jeremiah, he is ordered to go to the Temple and declare it would be destroyed. This amounts to blasphemy when it refers to the dwelling place of God upon the earth, but it has become a place of superstition and their cult is not kind to the people. They want to put Jeremiah to death but God protects him with a bronze wall. Jesus in Nazareth is greeted with the attitude of “Who does he think he is?” Friar Jude notes that the word for siblings “cousins” in Aramaic also can refer to “cousins”. Orthodox believe the Gospel may refer to half-brothers? Some Protestants believe they were true brothers and sisters. Friar Jude notes Roman Catholic belief is connected to ancient tradition that Jesus was an only child of Mary. Friar Jude comments how we seek the flaws of those too close or familiar to us.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14 comments that Jesus would quote this psalm again during his passion, They “hate me without cause” (Psalm 69:5; see John 15:25). We can listen in on his prayer to the Father in his distress, distress that comes not despite his relationship with his Father but because of it.

We pray it for ourselves when we face opposition for speaking truth or doing right. We may not match the heroism of Jeremiah. We certainly do not love our enemies perfectly, as Jesus did. So we pray this prayer with them, so that in “the time of [his] favor,” the Lord might make us like them (Psalm 69:14).

“Lord, in your great love answer me!” (Meditation on Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14, n.d.)

CAC faculty member Brian McLaren highlights how reading the Bible through a lens of love has inspired many Christians to works of goodness and compassion in the world.

But again, think about what truly biblical Christians (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, liberal, conservative, charismatic, whatever) have done when they have understood the profitable purpose of Scripture. Instructed by Scripture, they have … built hospitals and schools to heal bodies and strengthen minds. They have given money to needy people around the globe…. They have crossed racial, ethnic, and class barriers, seeing all people as brothers and sisters. They have chosen to suffer rather than betray their faith or make others suffer…. They’ve done their work as teachers, farmers, bricklayers, nurses, scholars, mechanics, sellers, public servants, scientists, homemakers, cab drivers, and cooks with a special sense of purpose, love, and joy. Their “good works” included doing “good work” from day to day … as part of their holy, sacred vocation in God’s creation.

Why? Since they understood the real purpose of Scripture, they let Scripture equip them for good works in our needy world. Their words and deeds together have qualified them to be bearers of good news. Sure they have never been perfect, but they have often been wonderful. (McLaren, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to alert us to the danger of satisfaction with popular culture and kindle in us the fire of action to support and care for the people in our home, worship, and work environment.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/26? 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13? 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/how-will-we-use-the-bible/ 

Meditation on Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/31/1635930/ 

Psalms, PSALM 69 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/69? 

Schulte-Bukowinski, S. (2026, July 31). Daily Reflection July 31, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-31-2026 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). They Took Offense at Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/