KAPIT SA PATALIM

Thursday in the 5th Week of the Ordinary Time
Mk 7:24-30

Have you ever been in dire need? Have you ever experienced needing something or someone badly? No, not only badly, but VERY BADLY!

Is there anything you have which when compared with your need is puny and therefore may be compromised? What is that which you can endure in exchange for something you cannot bear not having? What are you ready to loose in favor of something to gain?

Kapit sa patalim – this is what we, Filipinos, call something to which a person in dire need resort to. Have you already found yourself resorting to kapit sa patalim? Have you risked clinging unto the dagger by its blade? Has anyone already approached you in this situation? Have you dared extend to others the blade rather than its handle? Do you bleed if only to live? Do you live by making others bleed?

The Syrophoenician woman in the Gospel today may be resorting to kapit sa patalim when she approached Jesus, who was not only a man but also a Jew. During Jesus’ time, women were not allowed to talk to men in public, unless they were of kindred. Moreover, Jews look down upon gentiles, and Syrophoenicians were gentiles. But because she was in dire need for her daughter’s healing, the Syrophoenician nonetheless tried “to cling even unto the blade of the dagger”. But the blade of the dagger was not extended to her. She was given its handle: Faith.

Faith against all odds is like the handle of a dagger. It can pierce the heart of God.