~ by Father Ron Camarda

There are no divisions in God’s eyes…except one.

God doesn’t care if you are

Republican or Democrat

Gator or Seminole

Christian or Jew

Hindu or Muslim

Left-handed or right

Masters Degree or GED

Private or Colonel

Slave or free

God was specific in the readings today, “My House will be a house of prayer for all peoples. The only division in God’s eyes is those who have faith and those who do not. The woman whose daughter was literally “tormented” by a demon came to Jesus for help and the disciples tried to send her away.

Here at Queen of Peace you have a mission statement:

As Christians we receive God’s gifts gratefully,

cultivate them responsibly,

share them lovingly

in justice with others,

and return them with increase to the Lord.

The disciples did exactly the opposite of your mission statement. They wanted the gift of Jesus for their own selfish needs. They didn’t want to share the five loaves and two fish. They wanted relief from the terror on the sea, but they ignored the terror of this woman who was tormented by her daughter’s demonic illness. They tried to send the people away who were hungry. They tried to send the woman away because she calling out and annoying them. I wonder if the disciples said a few choice words to her or abused her?

Here at Queen of Peace you tithe your first fruits to the poor and outcast. Even when all of the families tithe, your faithful tithe has supported the following ministries this past year: Arbor House, Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Service, Covenant House, Franciscan Missionary of Our Lady, Hands Together, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Missionaries of Charity, St. Boniface Haiti, St. Francis House, St. Gerard Campus, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Meinrad Seminaries, Our Gainesville Catholic Schools and more!

Not only that, when the earthquake hit Haiti, you were able to not only raise $100,000 in one weekend for relief…but your love for the people of Haiti had doctors and nurses in place. St. Boniface Haiti Foundation in Fond de Blanc had better traumatic back care than the U.S. government! You basically love the people of Haiti like a daughter who is tormented by a demon. You run to Jesus and beg for help because of your great love.

If ever we say to Jesus: “Send her away she keeps calling after us”, Jesus will be deaf to our pleas. When we say:

“Send the poor away.”

“Send black people away.”

“Send women away.”

“Send the children away.”

“Send the blind man away.”

“Send the oppressed away.”

“Send the abused away.”

“Send the Muslims away.”

“Send my spouse away.”

All of these prayers prove beyond doubt that we have no Faith. The woman had more faith than all of the disciples put together who walked with Jesus for three years day and night. Peter could only muster a few steps on water and then heard Jesus say to him as he saved him with the grasp of his hand, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

It got me to thinking. The woman in the Gospel has no name. Just before I got up to proclaim the Gospel and give this homily…God whispered her name to me. My soul filled with tears.

She is the same woman in the Gospel who said:

“They have no wine!”

“Do whatever he tells you!”

“Son, why have you done this to us?”

“How can this be since I do not know man?”

“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you wish!”

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exalts in God my savior…”

Yes, yes, the woman’s name is Mary, Queen of Peace!

Mary doesn’t send anyone away. She stands at the foot of the cross. All are welcome to this place of horror. Her heart is pierced so that the hearts of many may be revealed. Whatever she asks, Jesus says:

“O Woman! Great is your FAITH! Let it be done for you as you wish. “

At that hour, her daughter (Queen of Peace Catholic Community) experienced great and total healing.

Now isn’t that truly Good News for the poor?!

Love, joy, peace,

Father Ron Moses+

www.tearinthedesert.com

Father Ron Camarda is a retired Naval Chaplain and author of “Tear in the Desert,” a powerful book containing his memoirs of life and death at the Battle for Fallujah. Father Ron appears on EWTN and recently won the Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America.