(Jer 31:1-7; Mt
15:21-28)
Jeremiah continues to deliver the
message of hope. God declares and pledged Himself as the God of all the
families of Israel. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I
have continued my faithfulness to you.” He promised to rebuild Israel, adorn
her with beauty and fill her with merrymaking. They shall plant and reap the
fruits. In those days, Zion shall be the holy City where they go up to meet the
Lord. At the end, Jeremiah said, “Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘The Lord has
saved His people, the remnant of Israel.”
In the Gospel, Jesus was moving down to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Suddenly, a Canaanite woman appeared and tried to disrupt His journey with her urgent request: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.” Surprisingly, Jesus kept silent and continued moving as if He did not hear her. But the woman so consumed by the urgency of her request, and her confidence in Jesus as the answer. So, she refused to ‘listen to the silence’ of Jesus towards her need; she followed Him along the way with more cries...This was unusual! The disciples could not understand the silence of Jesus, neither saying yes to her nor saying no. For their convenience, they begged Jesus to send her away since it was obvious He was not ‘interested’ in her case.
However, the ‘Silence’ of Jesus became like a ladder with which the woman climbed in her prayer and faith. The more Jesus kept silent, the more she followed and increased her request. The silence of God is attractive. It drew the woman along...Her longing moved on and on until she landed at the feet of Jesus, and humbled herself completely. Jesus explained, “I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” That means by jurisdiction, she was not qualified. But the woman came to Him on the authority of faith, not jurisdiction. So, as Jesus was speaking, she quickly knelt down before Him and said, “Lord, help me.” Then, Jesus objected on the authority of status: “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Again, she acknowledged that she has no ‘status right’ to lay claim to the miracle. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” Faith triumphs! What we do not deserve by ‘moral jurisdiction’ or what we cannot receive by ‘righteousness status’ can be poured into our laps by faith and humility. The authority of faith breaks barriers. This lowly Canaanite woman is accounted among the great women of the Gospels. For she was able to ‘wrestle’ favour from Jesus with faith like the Virgin Mary at the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle though His hour had not yet come (Jn 2:1-11).
Do you have such a faith that is overflowing with trust and confidence in Jesus as your only Saviour? Do not be distracted; do not be discouraged. Your faith is your working authority. March forward to your daily responsibilities with faith-filled confidence. The blessings God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah shall be yours today, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday August 5th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
