Gospel (Mk 7,24-30) - At that time, Jesus went to the region of Tyre. Having entered a house, he did not want anyone to know, but he could not remain hidden. A woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, as soon as she heard about him, went and threw herself at his feet. This woman was Greek speaking and of Syro-Phoenician origin. She begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. And he answered her: "Let the children be satisfied first, because it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she replied: "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the crumbs of the children." He then said to her: "For this word of yours, go: the devil has left your daughter." When he returned to her house, he found the little girl lying on the bed and the devil was gone.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus returns to pagan land again and remains there for a few days to carry out a real mission of evangelization. The example of the Syrian Phoenician woman, as told by the evangelist, seems to "force" Jesus to broaden the boundaries of his mission. Here is the prayer of this woman who wants to bend the heart of Jesus who, initially, seems refractory. She insists on asking for healing for her sick daughter. What an example for us too! This is how you pray, Marco seems to suggest. Jesus repeatedly insisted on perseverance in prayer: «Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. For whoever asks receives, and whoever seeks finds, and to whoever knocks it will be opened" (Lk 11,9-10). The insistence of this poor woman helps us to understand how broad and great God's mercy is. The Lord cannot resist the insistent prayer of his children, not even those who are considered far from the faith of his people. The cry of the poor is a prayer because there is God who always listens to it: as happened to this woman who persevered in prayer. Jesus listened to her and couldn't help but respond. And what is extraordinary is the fact that Jesus goes far beyond his requests. He gave her not just the crumbs, but the fullness of her life for her daughter. Truly the heart of the Lord is great and rich in mercy. We are only asked to turn to him with trust, as well as to hear the cry of the poor and present it to the Lord. And we must not forget what Jesus says at the end of the parable on the effectiveness of prayer: «If you therefore, being evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. !» (Luke 11:13).