Today’s Gospel reading (Mat 15:21-28) teaches us the importance of persistence.
The woman who approaches our Lord today has no ‘pedigree’ to fall back on with Jesus. He comes as the King of Israel. She comes as a woman from Canaan. Canaan is after all the land that God promised to give to Abraham in return for his faithfully departing his home in Haran to follow where God would lead him. So the Jews were conquerors of the land of Canaan, and therefore there was enmity between them.
The Lord goes out of His way to come to this place, the region of Tyre and Sidon, specifically to meet this woman.
Therefore, when she comes, why does Jesus rebuff her? And why does He do so in such a seemingly uncaring manner? His rejection to her plea for help is not made once, not even twice. Jesus refuses to help her after three successive pleas.
Her first plea is significant. Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! These words once again echo the Jesus Prayer, beginning with seeking His mercy, and ending with a concrete recognition of His divinity as the Son of David, therefore at least partial recognition of the Lord’s claim to being the Messiah.
But her initial words go on. My daughter is severely demon possessed.
Rebuff #1: He answered her not a word.
She makes such a heartfelt plea showing herself to be a loving mother, not asking for something for herself, but pleading the case for her possessed daughter, and the plea seemingly falls on deaf ears (although we know God hears EVERY prayer!).
The Lord’s disciples know this woman’s status. She is not a Jew and therefore she is amongst those whom the Lord has told them they should not minister to such people. And so they speak to the Lord, asking Him to command her to be sent away.
St. Matthew records (by noting the rejection of the Apostles) that the woman continued in her plea, for he tells us that the Apostles complaint to Jesus is she cries after us, and so her pleas haven’t ended with just the words St. Matthew has revealed to us.
Rebuff #2: I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Well, at least this time the rejection is made addressing the woman.
We can begin to sense the desperation in her being. She has to this time poured out her heart. She shows the faith that recognizes that she KNOWS that Jesus can help her. But she hasn’t penetrated to the place yet where He chooses to be that help to her.
He’s waiting for something. And so she cries a heart-wrenching plea, Lord, help me!
Rebuff #3: It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.
At this, the woman shows her humility. It doesn’t matter what she’s subjected to in rejection. She demonstrates this humility with her next words: Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
I’m willing to be called a dog. I define as a ‘crumb’ that which I know to be impossible for men, which is why I come to YOU, Lord, for I know what is impossible to men is simple for You— to You, Lord, this is a “crumb”!
Her humility now opens the door.
Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done to you as you desire.
Jesus doesn’t mention the daughter. He doesn’t have to. The mother has shown that she has no concern for herself. She only wishes to see the mercy for which she has effectively pleaded be granted to her afflicted daughter.
If we feel as if our prayer has gone unanswered, if we are in anguish over that for which we think we have prayed fervently, don’t stop praying. But don’t ‘judge’ God for not answering.
Perhaps He is waiting for us, as well, to show humility. In doing so, perhaps we as well will be blessed to hear Him say, great is your faith!
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