Today’s psalm, Psalm 62, contains a beautiful description of the total love and dedication that the psalmist has for God. The psalmist says his very soul thirsts for God. He looks eagerly to see God. God’s love is better than life. Today’s opening prayer also speaks about love for the name of God. Things like this make life in God seem deeply attractive. What a shock then to turn to our first reading from the prophet, Jeremiah, to see a very different kind of profession of

There is something deeply mysterious in the choice of St Peter. Our Lord asks the disciples who people say that he is. Various answers are given: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. Then the question becomes personal: “But you, who do you say that I am?” Peter answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus tells him that this confession has not come from flesh and blood. Peter has not simply worked it out. He has received something.

Jesus' reaction to this woman is a real problem, that is, if we think Jesus changed his mind about her and, up to then, he was being unkind to her. It's also a problem if we ourselves expect to change Jesus' mind: if we keep all this up, surely Jesus has to stop being indifferent and unkind towards me, and start giving me what I want. This is a problem. We must begin from the will of God. What is God's will for this non-Jewish woman and her daughter? From all that follows