Numbers 13:1-2, 25 - 14:1, 26-29, 34-35 / Matthew 15:21-28
Any ordinary person who is twenty years old would certainly have a bright future ahead of him.
At that age, the dreams of the opportunities and the possibilities, plus the vigour of youth, would certainly make life worth living.
But what if a twenty-year-old were told that he would be wandering around the the wilderness of the desert as a nomad and that eventually he will also die in the desert and be buried there.
In the 1st reading, we heard that because the Israelites did not have faith in God and even rejected and complained against God, and hence those who were twenty years old and above would die in the desert and not reach the Promised Land.
It would be so sad for the last man of that desert generation to see the Promised Land from afar and yet know that he will never set foot on it.
It was such a high price to pay for being rebellious and not having faith in God and in His promises.
Yet in the gospel, we hear of a very inspiring story of a Canaanite woman, a pagan, who came before Jesus pleading for a miracle in which she was not entitled to at all.
But it was her persistence and faith and trust in Jesus that her plea was granted.
We are God's Chosen people; we are the people of God's promises.
Let us have faith in God and in His promises.
Only then will we have hope for the future.