5th AUGUST. WEDNESDAY WEEK 18

1.Numbers13:1-2

2.Matthew 15: 21-28

“The Canaanite Woman’s Faith”

Today’s gospel is about a Canaanite woman who asked Jesus to heal her demon-possessed child. Firstly, it is ironic that it is this Canaanite woman who calls ‘Lord’ and ‘Son of David’ while the scribes and Pharisees do not. Even by these little gestures and designations she is already manifesting her faith in Jesus as the Messiah. It is in this kind of woman who shows faith in Jesus while the Jewish leaders reject him. From the scenario it is a bit surprising that once Jesus met the Canaanite woman, his first reaction to the woman is total rejection to her request.: First by his silence; second by insisting that his mission is only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and third by harshly referring to her as belonging to the “dogs” this may be found as disgrace and insults to the person. Just if happens on our part today for somebody to call you or compare you with a dog, the consequences for that will be unbearable. In spite of being compared with a dog a Canaanite woman is persistent in her request. The reluctant of Jesus to act on her request is overcome by his great persistence and great faith.

Jesus does this rejection to test woman’s faith and awaken faith in her. What did Jesus mean by the expression “throwing food to the dogs”? The background of this statement is from the Jews who held the belief that Gentiles “were unclean dogs.” Since the Gentiles were excluded from God’s covenant and favor with Israel. For the Greeks a “dog” symbolized dishonor and was used to describe a shameless and audacious woman. Matthew 7:6 records the expression: do not give dogs what is holy. The fact is that Jesus speaks with ironic language than with an insult because this woman immediately responds with wit and faith: even the dogs eat the crumbs.”

In today’s gospel we should learn and meditate on four things. First, as Christians in today’s world, we have to be always ready to be touched by what we encounter in our daily life as what Jesus did. A real Christian is one who is sensitive rather than heartless (Calloused), compassionate rather than heard-hearted. He is always willing to be moved and to be changed, of course for the better, thereby acting in love whenever a situation confronts him/her to lend a helping hand.

Second, our mission of spreading the faith and the love of God is not only confined to our own families, friends and communities but throughout the world. It is because this passage describes the only occasion in which Jesus ministered outside of Jewish territory. This faith and love of God have to be universal one. God’s love for all people is universal. God has eliminated all divisions. Anyone who believes in God must give due respect and support to other believers in Him, no matter what race or religion.

Third, faith is persistent. There some examples the gospel gives us about faith as persistent and one them is this Canaanite woman. Christ hears her plea and, as always, He hears her plea because her faith is the key to Jesus’ heart. She has proven herself worthy of being heard. Let us do the same, persistent in our prayers and storm heaven with our prayers.

Fourth, faith is humble. She does not mind being compared to a dog, but her faith pushes her on. To be humble is to be open to God’s plan, His will.

The gospel reading today suggests that as far as Jesus was concerned the time had not yet come to bring the gospel to pagans; it would come later, after his death and resurrection. Yet this woman succeeded in bringing forward that timetable by her persistent faith in the face of the Lord’s great reluctance. Jesus spoke at one point of a faith that can move mountains. This woman’s faith certainly moved Jesus. This pagan woman encourages all of us to remain faithful, even when the grounds for faithfulness seem to be very weak. She inspires us to keep seeking the Lord, even when the Lord appears to be silent and distant.