by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
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 demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 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 the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15:21-,28 NIV,,,
We learned from last week’s article that faith conquers fear in the experience of the disciples and of Peter who almost drowned (Matthew 14:22-32). We continue to learn more about faith with the following narrative in the 15th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. This week we travel with Jesus and his disciples outside Galilee. In our Gospel reading this Sunday, they were passing through Gentile territory of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus was not on a mission in this region for as he says, he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. A Canaanite woman with a sick daughter met them as they were passing through her territory. She approaches Jesus and begs him to heal her daughter of her affliction. This was likely her last resort in finding a cure for her daughter’s illness. She undoubtedly heard about Jesus and his ability to heal and saw in him a chance to help her child. The initial response of Jesus to the woman’s request baffles most and our understanding and expectation fall short.
***
The woman’s first appeal was met with complete silence, ‘Jesus did not answer a word’ (Matthew 15:23 NIV). Addressing the Lord Jesus with a Messianic title, she begs for mercy for her demonically possessed daughter. Boldly, without pleading any merit in herself, she cries out to Christ as one deeply serious in her petition. She first meets with our Lord’s silence – He answers her not a Word. We admire the mother or father who really fights for their child. They won’t take no for an answer if their child is being bullied or treated unjustly in any way, they will fight for the best medical treatment for their sick child. The woman in the gospel is like that. She has a sick child and really wants healing. Who would not want the same? She almost forces Jesus into curing her little daughter. She was desperate. Her persistence is an effect of her faith, and because of her faith Jesus cures her child.
When the answers of prayer are deferred, God is teaching us to pray all the more. The more we feel the burden the more we should resolutely pray for its removal. Evidently, she faithfully remains undeterred in her request by His silence as our Lord’s disciples encourage Him to simply get rid of her – send her away for her continuous crying out to Him. They were more concerned with their own comfort ready to silence her troublesome constant pleas rather than considering this poor woman’s difficult circumstances. Thankfully, our Lord never turns any away who willingly seek Him. I am reminded of the Prophet Jeremiah’s words:
12 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.” (Jeremiah 29:12-14).
***
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”
‘Dogs’ was a name for the Gentiles – and in this story the woman plays on its meaning to get Jesus to feed the dogs and, in this way, care for her. In the tradition preserved for us in the Scriptures, Jesus is presented to us as a formidable debater but in this instance the Canaanite woman comfortably wins the debating point. Jesus praises the woman for her faith but what was her faith? What did she believe about Jesus? One would love to know her subsequent history. Never underestimate the power of humble persistent prayer by those who approach in faith. This Canaanite woman’s actions clearly demonstrate to us the faithful and continuous seeking of the Master until obtaining the joy for which our soul longs for. Fervent prayer avails much. James tells us: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV)
***
Desperation and persistence. This reminds me of this story which I came across in a sermon illustration website. An enterprising soccer fan made heads turn when he found a way to circumvent the rules preventing him from enjoying his favorite team. Ali Demirkaya, nicknamed “Yamuk Ali” (or “Crazy Ali”) is well known in his area for his passionate fandom of the local football club, Denizlispor. So ardent was his fandom that Ali had been banned from the stadium for a year, due to a misdemeanor from a previous fan-related incident. So on the day of an important match against a rival team, Ali found a solution—he rented a crane, then lifted it high enough to see over the stadium wall. “That match was very important for our team,” he explained to local news source Yeni Asir. “I had to go to the police station to sign a paper to show that I am not watching the match in the stadium. Then I quickly went to rent the crane.” Social media in the area was full of pictures of a jubilant Ali cheering from his perch. Ultimately, police were summoned and Ali was forced to lower the crane. Nevertheless, he still ended the day on a high note. The stunt only cost him the equivalent of $86, he wasn’t cited or fined by the authorities, and his team won 5-0.
***
Amazed at her great faith, the Lord Jesus commends the desperate woman further, and grants her request. The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God and that He rewards those humbly and earnestly seeking Him: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV). “It was her faith that he commended. Several other graces shone brightly in her conduct here – wisdom, humility, meekness, patience, perseverance in prayer – but these were the results of her faith. Because faith, of all graces, honors Christ the most, he honors faith more than any other grace.” (Matthew Henry). We learn from this woman’s acts of desperation that fervent prayer of the faithful avails much. When silence is the answer to our prayers we must continue praying. Faith in God … pleases God.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Proper 15 Collect, ECP-BCP).
