18th Week in Ordinary Time
O woman, great is your faith! (Matthew 15:28)
Did you know that in the gospels, only two people are commended as having “great faith”? One is the centurion who tells Jesus, “Lord, only say the word and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8). The other is this Canaanite woman, whose persistence with Jesus paid off in healing for her daughter (15:28). What’s even more impressive is that both were Gentiles, outsiders who would have been considered unclean by most faithful Jews.
Because she was a woman as well as a Canaanite, this desperate mother had two strikes against her. But that didn’t stop her. Out of love for her daughter and with faith in Jesus’ power to heal, she didn’t let these “handicaps” get in the way. She began by addressing Jesus in Jewish terms of faith—“Lord” and “Son of David.” When Jesus made no reply at first, she persisted.
Receiving yet another rebuff, she cleverly and humbly acknowledged Jesus’ words but boldly pointed out that even she—an alien to the Jewish covenant—could benefit from Jesus’ ministry to the Jews. Finally, Jesus commended her great faith and healed her daughter.
There are two key aspects to this woman’s “great faith.” First, she was humble. Second, she was persistent. She readily paid Jesus homage—which a Gentile woman would not have considered necessary—and she was quick to acknowledge her lowly position as a non-Jew in God’s plan of salvation. As for her persistence, this woman was not put off by Jesus’ silence, by the rebukes of the disciples, or even by Jesus’ initial response. Instead, these obstacles made her draw closer to Jesus and intensified the earnestness of her request!
If you have a need that calls for intercession, let this woman’s humility and persistence teach you how to approach Jesus. Don’t worry about how you can best grow in these two virtues. Every day, you will face challenges and trials that will give you plenty of opportunities to learn. Just try to keep your eyes open and your heart pure, and you’ll become humble and persistent. You’ll learn that Jesus is always with you, strengthening your faith and hearing your prayers.
“Jesus, I want to draw closer to you. Teach me, Lord, always to approach you with humble and persistent faith.”
Jeremiah 31:1-7
(Psalm) Jeremiah 31:10-13
Daily Marriage Tip for August 3, 2016:
In the midst of arguments, fight against the problem and not against your spouse. Remember that you and your spouse are on the same team.