Aug 8, 2026 Written by 

They reach out their hands

1. The ‘miracles and signs’ that Jesus performed to confirm his messianic mission and the coming of the Kingdom of God are ordered and closely linked to the call to faith. This call, in relation to the miracle, takes two forms: faith precedes the miracle; indeed, it is a condition for its occurrence; faith is an effect of the miracle, for it is brought about by the miracle in the souls of those who have received it or witnessed it.
It is well known that faith is man’s response to the word of divine revelation. The miracle takes place in an organic connection with this revealing word of God. It is a ‘sign’ of his presence and his working—a sign, one might say, of particular intensity. All this sufficiently explains the special bond that exists between Christ’s ‘miracles-signs’ and faith: a bond so clearly outlined in the Gospels.
6. Particularly moving is the episode of the Canaanite woman, who kept asking Jesus for help for her daughter, who was ‘cruelly tormented by a demon’. When the Canaanite woman prostrated herself before Jesus to ask for his help, he replied: ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs’ (this was a reference to the ethnic difference between the Israelites and the Canaanites, which Jesus, son of David, could not ignore in his practical conduct, but to which he alluded as a methodological device to provoke faith). And so the woman, guided by intuition, performed an extraordinary act of faith and humility. She said: ‘It is true, Lord . . . but even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Faced with these words—so humble, courteous and trusting—Jesus replied: ‘Woman, your faith is truly great! Let it be done for you as you wish’ (cf. Mt 15:21–28).
It is an event that is hard to forget, especially when one thinks of the countless ‘Canaanites’ of every age, country, race and social condition, who hold out their hands to ask for understanding and help in their time of need!
[Pope John Paul II, General Audience, 16 December 1987]

93 Last modified on Saturday, 08 August 2026 03:20
don Giuseppe Nespeca

Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".

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It is necessary to know how to be silent, to create spaces of solitude or, better still, of meeting reserved for intimacy with the Lord. It is necessary to know how to contemplate. Today's man feels a great need not to limit himself to pure material concerns, and instead to supplement his technical culture with superior and detoxifying inputs from the world of the spirit [John Paul II]
Occorre saper fare silenzio, creare spazi di solitudine o, meglio, di incontro riservato ad un’intimità col Signore. Occorre saper contemplare. L’uomo d’oggi sente molto il bisogno di non limitarsi alle pure preoccupazioni materiali, e di integrare invece la propria cultura tecnica con superiori e disintossicanti apporti provenienti dal mondo dello spirito [Giovanni Paolo II]
This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter which has become a communion of will, even affecting my feelings (Pope Benedict)
Questo può realizzarsi solo a partire dall'intimo incontro con Dio, un incontro che è diventato comunione di volontà arrivando fino a toccare il sentimento (Papa Benedetto)
He is “the very stone which the builders rejected” (cf. Mt 21:42), because they judged him to be hostile to the law and a danger to public order [Pope Benedict]
Egli è “la pietra che i costruttori hanno scartato” (cfr Mt 21,42), perché l’hanno giudicato nemico della legge e pericoloso per l’ordine pubblico [Papa Benedetto]
"His" in a very literal sense: the One whom only the Son knows as Father, and by whom alone He is mutually known. We are now on the same ground, from which the prologue of the Gospel of John will later arise (Pope John Paul II)
“Suo” in senso quanto mai letterale: Colui che solo il Figlio conosce come Padre, e dal quale soltanto è reciprocamente conosciuto. Ci troviamo ormai sullo stesso terreno, dal quale più tardi sorgerà il prologo del Vangelo di Giovanni (Papa Giovanni Paolo II)
That 'always seeing the face of the Father' is the highest manifestation of the worship of God. It can be said to constitute that 'heavenly liturgy', performed on behalf of the whole universe [John Paul II]
Quel “vedere sempre la faccia del Padre” è la manifestazione più alta dell’adorazione di Dio. Si può dire che essa costituisce quella “liturgia celeste”, compiuta a nome di tutto l’universo [Giovanni Paolo II]
But what moves me even more strongly to proclaim the urgency of missionary evangelization is the fact that it is the primary service which the Church can render to every individual and to all humanity [Redemptoris Missio n.2]
Ma ciò che ancor più mi spinge a proclamare l'urgenza dell'evangelizzazione missionaria è che essa costituisce il primo servizio che la chiesa può rendere a ciascun uomo e all'intera umanità [Redemptoris Missio n.2]
Freedom and love coincide! On the contrary, obeying one’s selfishness leads to rivalry and conflict (Pope Benedict)
Libertà e amore coincidono! Al contrario, obbedire al proprio egoismo conduce a rivalità e conflitti (Papa Benedetto)
Are they not all spirits charged with a ministry, sent to serve those who are to inherit salvation? (Heb 1:14)
The Church with its permanent contradiction: between the ideal and reality, the more annoying contradiction, the more the ideal is affirmed sublime, evangelical, sacred, divine, and the reality is often petty, narrow, defective, sometimes even selfish (Pope Paul VI)

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