Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 18th week in ordinary time, August 5, 2026

Delivered by Kristiana Lengkong and Father Peter Tukan, SDB from the Parish of Saint John Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Jeremiah 31: 1-7; Rs psalm 31: 10.11-12ab.13; Matthew 15: 21-28.GOD HEARS OUR CRY The theme for our meditation today is: God Hears OurCry. There is a friend who has a story for us today, that is about his dreamsome times ago. In his dream, he found himself being tempted by the Satan whotook him to visit various places. The Satan showed him pleasant and verywonderful places in the world. The Satan told him that he must decide at once achoice to stay in the house of Satan, and all the wonderful things seen duringtheir tour would be his benefit for the whole life. He must have a happy lifewith no limits. But that man refused to follow the Satan's demand. Hereasoned out that the almighty God already consecrated him, his family membersand friends. It's better for the Satan to go and looking for other people, and betterto let him free. The Satan was so angry and threatened to destroy him. ThenSatan brought him right on the edge of a cliff and the man could see fardownward without end. He will be thrown there as a punishment which was alreadyprepared by the Satan. When he began to fall, he cried loudly in uttering thename of the Lord Jesus Christ. Immediately there was an Angel of God with sostrong wings, more powerful that the Satan's wings, took him up and brought himto a landing, which was in his own home. He survived the power of Satan and hewoke up from that dream. He has defeated Satan by giving himself to be saved byGod. God is always the destination of our complaints andcries, both through the expression of our hearts and with uttering words or cryof our strongest emotion. There are so many cries or shouts for help from thisworld and God hears every one of them and then gives His generous response. Wealways complain, call and shout for His attention, or weep and plead with Himto show our dependence upon Him. Today the passage of the Gospel also tells us, thatthrough a cry for help, the non-Jewish woman eventually found Jesus Christ'shelp. Her faith in Jesus brought healing of her son from the possession of theevil spirits. Our cry for help addressed to God is really important and urgent.Our cry for urgent help from other people is also equally important. There aremany urgent needs around us such as natural disasters, accidents, illness,hunger and many other similar problems that need recoveries and helps from ourfellow brothers and sisters. They are so important for us. As children of God,we should not be reluctant and passive either to look for helps or openourselves to give help. Let us not keep our cry unheard or unnoticed for helpand let our neighbor's cry not go away with the blowing wind without ournotice.Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... Almighty and most loving God, fill ourhearts and minds with grace of generosity so that we can offer our helps to thedemands of our brothers and sisters who are in need. Glory to the Father and tothe Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...