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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.
He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel .
The woman came and knelt before him. Lord, help me! she said.
He replied, It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.
Yes, Lord, she said, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered, Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Matt 15:21-28
Meditation: The Jews often spoke of the Gentiles with arrogance and insolence as "unclean dogs" since the Gentiles were excluded from God's covenant and favour with Israel . For the Greeks the "dog" was a symbol of dishonour and was used to describe a shameless and audacious woman. Matthew 7:6 records the expression: do not give dogs what is holy. Jesus, no doubt, spoke with a smile rather than with an insult because this woman immediately responds with wit and faith -- "even the dogs eat the crumbs". Jesus praises a Gentile woman for her faith and for her love. She made the misery of her child her own and she was willing to suffer rebuff in order to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence. Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one who ever sought Jesus with faith -- whether Jew or Gentile -- was refused his help. Do you seek Jesus with expectant faith?
Prayer: "Lord, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I trust you always and pursue you with indomitable persistence as this woman did. Increase my faith in your saving power and deliver me for all evil and harm. ." Amen