Our Scripture meditation is based on Matthew 15:21–28, the Gospel Reading for next week, the 12th Sunday after Pentecost. For a meditation on the Old Testament Lesson, click HERE.
[21] And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. [22] And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” [23] But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” [24] He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [25] But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” [26] And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
We expect Jesus to inspire hope, but hope that rises from an interaction with a Canaanite woman? Hope from a cultural outsider? Hope from an ancient enemy of Israel? Yes, because Jesus remains the source for hope.
This account is reminiscent of Jesus’ story of the persistent widow. (Matthew 18:1-8) There are times when God doesn’t immediately answer our prayers. For His own reasons, our Lord wants us to keep coming back to Him. Just like this Canaanite woman, we keep asking our Lord. We have hope that, just as with the Canaanite woman, God will ultimately answer our prayers in the affirmative.
This story reminds us to keep praying for healing. When it comes to prolonged illnesses or medical conditions, we can grow weary of prayer. We offer petitions to our Lord from weeks or months or years. It’s tiring. It can be demoralizing. Yet we continue to pray. God continues to welcome the petitions. The prayers themselves are an act of worship, an offering given to our Lord. We remain hopeful for healing.
Finally, this account foreshadows the Great Commission. Jesus reminds the Canaanite that He was sent for “lost sheep of Israel.” Yet Jesus ultimately heals her daughter. So also today. God continues to reach with the Gospel the “Canaanites” in our lives, in our communities, in our nation. There is hope for faith to provide spiritual healing for the spiritually lost.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
Kevin Wilson 360 