Wednesday: 18^th Week in Ordinary Time-A

I Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-7: I have loved you with an everlasting love.

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28: Woman, you have great faith.

The Messiah Teaches What It Takes to Receive Things of God

In this passage we see the persistent faith with humility of a Canaanite woman and mercy of Jesus. Her faith was great because she was humble, patient, persevering, clever, and she cared for her child, being a good and loving mother. Her faith conquered Jesus and that his divine appointment was met the need of this woman of faith and her afflicted daughter. Faith is often greatest when it is expressed on behalf of someone else’s need.

Her intercessory prayer to Jesus was, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

The Canaanites were not just ordinary enemies but ancestral enemies of the Jews. Jesus knew every thought of her heart, and he knew exactly what was needed to lead her to personal faith in him. At first, the woman saw Jesus only as the Son of David, a great miracle worker to liberate people from their ills and problems whether national or personal. She needed to grow in her concept of Christ. She learned step by step that Jesus is the Lord who is to be worshipped (v.25). He is the Master of all lives (or dogs, v.26-27), and a person must persist and demonstrate humility in seeking him.

Significantly, Jesus appreciated and encouraged the faith of the Centurion and this Gentile woman.

How do we come to the Lord Jesus to pray for oneself or for others?

Do we travel like Jesus to the Gentile territories to meet the needs of the poor?

1. Jesus withdrew to Gentile religions (v.21-22)

a. The border of Tyre and Sidon

b. A desperate woman approached Jesus

2. A cry of need (v.22)

a. She cried for mercy

b. She cried to the Son of David

c. She cried for another –for her daughter

3. A persistence that would not quit (v.23-24)

a. Despite Jesus’ silence

b. Despite the objection of the disciples

c. Despite being undeserving

4. A spirit that worshipped Jesus as Lord (v.25)

5. A spirit of humility and surrender (v.26-27)

a. The need to learn humility

b. The confession of humility: she accepted Jesus’ verdict of her

6. A great faith (v.28)

a. Jesus’ climactic commendation: “you have great faith”

b. Jesus’ climactic reward: granted her request

Thought: There is a difference in the way people seek Jesus and pray.

1. Some people pray that God might hear. There is no complete faith in God.

2. Some people pray with persistence or perseverance constantly with a desperate heart and humility without any doubt in God. This Canaanite woman knew Jesus was her only hope, so she would not quit. She would not be discouraged by anything-not by silence or an objection or by an apparent rebuff.

What is great faith? The steps taken by this woman tell us:

1) It is a desperate cry of need (v.22)

2) It is a persistence that will not quit (v.23-24)

3) It is a sprit that worships Jesus as the Lord (v.25)

4) It is a spirit of humility and surrender to the Lord (v.26-27)

5) It is a faith that receives its request (v.28).

There are only two individuals whose faith Jesus pronounced to be great: this woman and the centurion. It is worth noting that both are Gentiles (Mt 8:10). We need the way of desperate seeking Jesus’ help.

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