Religious Education 

WEEKEND GOSPEL 

GOSPEL    Matthew 15:21-28

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Woman, you have great faith

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

A beginning point for discussion of this week's Gospel with children:

• What happened when the woman in today’s gospel first called out to Jesus for help?
• Why do you think the disciples tried to turn her away?
• How did Jesus reward her faith?
• Have you ever heard of or seen people in need who have been turned away?
• How should we treat people who are in need or different to us?

Let us pray that we will become more like Jesus and show kindness to all people