Matthew 15:21-28
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.”
But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
And he answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Homily:
The story of the Canaanite woman above is one that humbled me.
How many of us will not let pride get in the way will persist in asking after being told these words by someone we seek help from – “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”?
And in the illustration, the dog being referred to is us. The person speaking is of another tribe, another race, another sex, another age.
How many of us will persist and reply, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
She did all this for love. Love for her daughter. An overarching desire for her to get healing. She went to God, had faith in His word and was unwilling to leave until her desire was met.
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:11
Ask God.