Today we are shown the faith of a woman who did not belong to the chosen people, but who had confidence that Jesus could cure her daughter. In fact, that mother “was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter” (Mk 7:26). Pain and love lead her to ask insistently, without regard for contempt, delays, or indignity. And she got what she asked for, because “when the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone” (Mk 7:30).

Saint Augustine said that many do not get what they ask for because they are “aut mali, aut male, aut mala.” Either they are bad and the first thing they should ask for is to be good; or they ask badly, without insistence, instead of doing so with patience, humility, faith and love; or they ask for bad things that if received would harm the soul or the body or others. We must strive, then, to ask well. The Syrophoenician woman is a good mother, she asks well (“she came and fell at his feet”) and asks for something good (that “he drive the demon out of her daughter”).

The Lord moves us to use perseveringly the prayer of petition. Certainly, there are other types of prayer—adoration, atonement, prayer of thanksgiving—but Jesus insists that we frequently pray for petitions.

Why? There could be many reasons: because we need God’s help to reach our goal; because it expresses hope and love; because it is a cry of faith. But there is one that is perhaps not considered: God wants things to be a little as we want them. In this way, our request—which is a free act—united with the omnipotent freedom of God, makes the world as God wants it and somewhat as we want it. The power of prayer is marvelous!