My dear people of God, today is the 20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. The gospel reading last Sunday, reminded us the importance of faith and trust in Jesus when the storms of this world tossed and jerked our lives. This Sunday, we are being reminded to remain resilient and never get discouraged when our prayers seem not to be answered.
A story is told about a young man who graduated from college, and for a while he applied for job in various places and did not succeed. Lastly, he tried with an insurance company nearby. He was not accepted there either. He felt discouraged and was frustrated; he went back home spent his days watching television, playing games, and browsing on internet.
However, two blocks away from his home is another guy who has graduated from college and was seeking for a job. He tried many companies as well without a success. He, then tried the same insurance company the former person had tried without success. He was told there is no job available for now. Unlike the other person, this guy never gave up, he never felt discouraged. Instead, he decided to meet with the manager in person, but he was told the manager was away.
For three consecutive times he went, and finally was granted an interview. The manager told him that three other people had applied for the same job. Because of his resilience, persistence and courage, he was able to secure the one available job at the insurance company.
Today’s gospel episode told us about a woman from the pagan world. The name of this woman is not mentioned. She is a Canaanite woman looking for Jesus, not for job opportunity, but for her daughter in a critical situation. For obvious reason, this woman must have heard about Jesus, how he cures many people of their diseases and she has decided to go and plead with Jesus to save her daughter.
The holy gospel told us, at first, Jesus did not give her audience. Yet, she insisted calling on Jesus for help. She was not afraid to ask and ask with insistence because of her great need. The woman was not afraid of the reaction the crowd might have against her, because she is a foreigner. At a certain point the apostles get fed up with her shouting. And, they wanted Jesus to “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us”. But Jesus responded to them, that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus reluctance over this woman’s cry increases her gesture and zeal. She came up and was kneeling at Jesus feet. She did not remain where she was, instead, she came closer to Jesus. In other words, she prayed and acted. This reminds us that prayer and action go together. The woman was not put off by the statement Jesus made, that he came for the Jews and not for the pagans. She acted as if she did not hear what Jesus had said. Her prayers are so simple and direct to the point: “Lord, help me”.
The response she received from Jesus seems to be offensive and unacceptable to us today, but very familiar at that time and very common among the Jews and Rabbis. “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs”. Yet, the woman did not feel angry; her faith never faltered. She simply accepted to be a dog, because she knew and understood exactly what she wanted. She knew and understood that a beggar has no choice. She accepted to be a special dog, a patient dog that eats the fattest bone. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table”, she said.
The Lord did not only commend her strong faith but also granted her request. Her prayer was answered and her daughter was instantly healed. The Canaanite woman represents what the anguished human heart needs. Whenever we are in need of something, let us keep our pride aside. Whenever we are praying to God for something or asking Him for our beloved one who is in a critical situation, do not give up if your prayer seems not to be answered. Wait on the Lord, have courage and be resilient. At the appointed time the Lord will answer your prayer. He always answers when the righteous call onto Him. He alone can help us; he alone can fulfil our human needs. We can only realise this when we persevere through prayer.
Finally, this woman’s action challenges us to realise that we are all children of God. She came to the Lord with the burden of a tormented child and left with the fortune of a great faith. She came to Jesus as a foreigner and left as a daughter of God-a woman of faith. No one is a stranger before God. He made us in his image and likeness. He treats everyone on the same basis, regardless of race, religion and nationality. Your faith, my faith and our faith are very important.