Woman, great is your faith

Listening to the Spirit

Lord Jesus, grant us the grace of persistence and perseverance like the Canaanite woman.
May we have the commitment to pursue our Chirstian vision and mission in the midst of the challenges we face.
May we have the tenacity to hold on to your saving power and loving presence, especially when worse is turning to worst.
May we have the persistence to press on for solutions to our problems, and to never give up. Amen.

Listening to the Word

Matthew 15:21-28

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 Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ 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 Jesus 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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

Reflection

“O woman, great is your faith!” Jesus was touched and admired by the faith of the Canaanite woman after he tested her by citing a proverb: “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” According to Mark Link, “Faith is not sitting back and waiting for God to act; it is not sitting back and trusting that God will act. Faith is standing up and urging God to act.” The woman in the Gospel teaches us that faith involves aggressiveness, as we Filipinos used to say, “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.”

“O woman, great is your faith!” The Canaanite woman embodies one of the characteristics of many Filipinos: “lakas ng loob.” She has the “lakas ng loob” to call Jesus the Son of David despite them being “mortal enemies.” She has the “lakas ng loob” to persist in her request and persevere despite the silence and Jesus tagging her as a dog. Because of her great faith, her daughter was cured. As the old saying goes, “God helps those who help themselves.”

“O woman, great is your faith!” How can we have great faith like the Canaanite woman?

a. Prayer: Our prayer increases our faith. Prayer is not about manipulating God into granting a request as if He were some kind of Aladdin’s lamp. Instead, it's a surrender to God in faith, experiencing His “presence” even without His “presents.”

b. Jesus: Faith's object is not propositions and doctrines directly, but a person—Jesus Christ. Our faith doesn't rely on miracles, stigmata, prophecies, or apparitions. It depends on HIM.

c. Crisis and suffering: Difficulties can purify and strengthen our faith. Faith is easy on the wedding day, on the ordination day, and on big occasions. But faith is tough when your partner betrays you. Faith is elusive the first time your superior blows up at you. Faith is hard when your family member has a serious illness. James in his letter said, “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you face various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).

d. We need the company, support, and encouragement of people who will stand by us. No person is an island. We need each other.

Last Tuesday, August 15, the entire Catholic Church celebrated the Assumption of Mary. Because of her great faith, she was given a privilege by her son, Jesus, to be assumed body and soul into heaven. May we be inspired by these women (Canaanite woman and Mama Mary) who exhibited persistent and persevering faith, causing Jesus to highlight their faith as great.