"Woman, Great Is Your Faith"

"Woman, 

Great Is Your Faith"

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. Mt 15: 21-28

Some Points To Consider:

• Is the Lord's delay in responding to the woman intended for his disciples, to give them, through the example of the woman's perseverance, a lesson in how to prayer?

• Jews pejoratively referred to Canaanites as dogs. By juxtaposing this slander with the humility of the women, Jesus demonstrates who's prayers find God's favour.   

• Consider again, the quality of your own prayer, your trust, your perseverance, your humility.

The Grace I Seek:

Create in me O Lord, a truly trusting, humbled, contrite heart; that my prayer may be found worthy in your presence.

My Prayer Reviewed and Journal

• This meeting with the Lord, time and place.
• The scripture passage that was chosen.
• Presence - the character of your attentiveness - your sense of the Lord's presence.
• Did you come with certain questions, certain needs, 
• What was your state of mind?
• What in the scripture passage caught your attention? Why?
• How did you picture the scene in the scripture passage?
• Which characters did you identify with - inspired you, most resembled you?
• What images were you left with?
• Characterize the way your spirit is moving.
• What, if any, message were you left with?

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