Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Thursday, February 14, 2019

I’ve always enjoyed the story in Mark 7:24-30, because of the Greek woman’s response to Jesus in the face of an impossibility. She’s a sign of hope for all of us when we’re up against a wall and there seems to be no door through it. Her persistence and her confidence in Jesus, who was known to be a barrier-breaker, were traits that we should copy. At first, Jesus seemed to be saying “no” to the woman’s prayer request, but the woman persisted. Think about the barriers that you seem to be up against. When it seems like our prayers are hitting a hard wall. Is Jesus really saying no? Sometimes he does, but only for our protection, because it would be harmful for us to proceed ahead with our plans. We need to be like the Greek woman who found a clever way around her obstacle. No prayer bounces off a brick wall forever. Find a new angle and keep hitting that wall with more prayers. And when you get tired, take a rest in the Father’s lap. You will reach the breakthrough you need. I guarantee it. I speak from experience. Shalom!