To follow the Canaanite Woman's story, please read Matthew 15: 21-28. Her devotional can be found on page 1554 of the Catholic Women's Devotional Bible.
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Sometimes, I get a little huffy when the bible neglects to name a character. Maybe that's just the writer in me. I mean, they're obviously important enough to be mentioned...why not just give them a name while you're at it?
For whatever reason, the Holy Spirit decided not to reveal to Matthew the name of the Canaanite woman, but as I said, her story is important enough to take up seven verses in the gospel of Matthew. So, in this post, we're going to reflect on the story of the (nameless) Canaanite woman.
Just a friendly reminder: this is the bible I'm using for the reflections in this series. Click the picture or link to purchase your copy.
The Canaanite Woman's Story Recap
Fact #1: She was a Gentile.
Fact #2: Her daughter was possessed by a demon.
Fact #3: She heard a Jewish healer was in town, and she was determined to seek his help for her daughter even though...
Fact #4: Jews and Gentiles rarely intermingled.
She pleaded with Jesus for His help, but He ignored her. The disciples urged Him to send her away because they probably thought she was annoying. The following exchange took place:
"Lord, help me," she said.
Jesus replied, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."
"Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."
"Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish it."
And her daughter was healed.
Reflection
Who among us wouldn't go to such lengths for our suffering children? I, for one, wouldn't care a lick about the religion of someone who could potentially save my child. And neither did she. She defied the customs, ignored the backlash, and simply believed with all her might that Jesus could heal her daughter.
Talk about faith!
I'm always a little thrown by Jesus's response because it seems very acerbic and unlike His character. I mean, He calls her a dog, for goodness sake! But, the devotional makes it clear that things were lost in translation. He wasn't using the term dog derisively as it often appears in scripture. He meant little dogs kept as pets, so there was a much more loving and kind connotation than at first appearance.
It's important to note what was happening in Jesus's ministry at the time of this encounter. His primary mission at that moment was to the Israelites. The time to minister to the Gentiles wouldn't be until after His death and resurrection. So, He avoided the Canaanite woman's initial pleas so as not to preempt His ministry to the Gentiles.
But her faith was so strong that He couldn't ignore her for long. And that is my biggest takeaway from this story. If we are persistent in our prayers, God hears us. He knows what we need, what is on our hearts, and He will give that to us...but in His time.
It can be very frustrating, especially if we're asking for God's intercession for a loved one. It's not like advocating to a teacher or doctor who can give you immediate feedback. Sometimes, the answer doesn't come for a long time. Sometimes, it doesn't come in the way we expected it would. But it always comes. So, instead of giving up, let's be reminded of the faith and persistence of the Canaanite woman. God saw her faith and answered her prayers. And He'll do the same for us, too.
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