Brothers and Sisters,

Tyre and Sidon were twin cities that sat on the Mediterranean coast. They were Phoenician cities and mainly gentile in population. They had their roots in ancient Canaan, hence the reference to the woman in our text as a Canaanite.

Jesus is preaching and teaching, and this woman calls out trying to get his attention, most likely from a distance at first. Laws and social custom were strict regarding the mixing of gentiles and Jews, as well as men and women . At this point she is making a nuisance of herself.  Jesus seems to be ignoring her. The disciples want Jesus to send her off, but Jesus, in response makes his mission clear. He has come to seek out his own Jewish brothers and sisters who are lost. Not satisfied with this response, the woman finally sees her opportunity and seizes it. She comes and does him homage, most likely throwing herself on her face at his feet and begging for his help. She addresses him as “Lord”, showing him a certain faith and desperate trust that he can save her daughter. The dialogue that happens next seems cold on Jesus’ part, but this kind of banter would have been common in his day, especially between Jews and gentiles. The word for dog here refers really to a house dog or a puppy, not the wild dogs that one often encountered in the streets, so the tone is lightly sarcastic, almost a jest. She is obviously trying his patience. He has made his mission clear; he is here to save his own. Now many would have given up by this time. Jesus had already made his decision. However, she persists, again, addressing him as “Lord” and takes his retort and humbles herself even further happy with whatever little help he will give. Jesus is impressed and hails her for her persistence and faith and frees her loved one from evil’s grip.                               

When my nephew was little, he had a terrible habit when he was tired. If he wanted my sister’s attention he would sit and call my sister repeatedly, “Mommy”, until she finally answered him. He would do it constantly. After a period of time just repeatedly saying her name, it would drive the rest of us insane. “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy.” He wouldn’t give up. Eventually my sister would crack and respond. And he would say what he wanted and then add at the end, “you know I love you.” How could you be angry or even exasperated with that? Thankfully with proper correction and good parenting, he grew out of the habit.

Persistence is the key to understanding this gospel text. This woman wins Jesus over and receives a healing for her daughter because she would not take no for an answer. Like my nephew she would not give in till she got what she was looking for even if it drove everyone else to distraction.

Too often we are not persistent in our prayer. We need the Lord’s help and we call out to him, but either we are too distracted or if the answer we are looking for does not come on our time, or in our way, we give up. This woman was single minded, and her dogged determination and faith won the healing for her daughter. You and I need this kind of faith. We have to be single minded in our determination. The Lord will reward us if we do, maybe not with what we want, but with what we really need.

I invite you to pray without ceasing and ask and the Lord will respond. Be persistent in faith and trust of the Lord. The Lord loves the sound of your voice – even if it’s just repeating his name over and over again. He’s never exasperated with that!

Peace,

Fr. Steve