Thursday 12 December - Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me

Readings

Psalm 37, Isaiah 32, Matthew 15:21-28 and Revelation 21:1-6

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.’  Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’  He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’ The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said. He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’  ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15:21-28

Reflection

“And her daughter was healed instantly.“  Jesus having fed the multitude and rescued Peter had a vast crowd descend on him. Of course who wouldn’t do all they could for those they love. They carried them, shouldering the burden of another’s pain, weeping and longing for a difference. Desperate, they came in their thousands. He tries to again retreat and along comes  a woman. We can empathise with her—she is a foreigner,  a gentile and her daughter is in turmoil. She approaches Jesus as her only ground of hope  - do you know that feeling? She attempts to get his attention—shouting, begging, kneeling for mercy and those around felt uncomfortable and want rid of her. Jesus is an honoured guest and they want to show him courtesy. She didn’t want courtesy she wanted help—she was desperate and in spite of the humiliating response from Jesus she receives her hearts desire.

We could be impatient with the disciples, recoil from the words of Jesus, saddened and horrified for the woman and it could disturb us.  Yet we could take a breath like Jesus did, have a moment of silence hang in the air as he did between himself and the Canaanite woman. For there in the midst is an invitation, an invitation to faith, which the woman accepted—will you?  

Prayers

 

God in whom I live and move and have my being,
come teach me that you have made us your own.
You are not far from each of us,
show yourself to all who search for you.
That as you reveal yourself to us in Love we may reveal that Love to others. Amen