Articles

            Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, " O woman, great is your faith” (Mathew 15: 28). A Canaanite woman came to Jesus and said, help me my daughter is tormented by a demon. Jesus didn't say a word to her (it was as if Jesus was ignoring her). To make it more challenging to this woman, the apostles said to Jesus, " send her away because she keeps calling out after us"(Mathew 15: 23).  Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mathew 15: 24).  It is not good to give the children’s food to the dogs" (Mathew 15: 26).  But the woman replied, “even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters” (Mathew 15: 27). Jesus then replied, O woman great is your faith! (Mathew 15: 28).

What is it that makes her faith great?  

1. She had absolute trust in Jesus 

2. She was determined to get help from Jesus. 

3. She remained humble. 

4. She had knowledge of who Jesus is, hence was able to say to Jesus “Lord, help me.” 

5. She became a member of the household of God. 

            Unlike this Canaanite woman, a lot of us today would have instead called out to Jesus saying; you have no right to talk to anyone like that? Some would have called Jesus a liar, a fake prophet or even contacted their lawyers to charge Jesus for harassment. Some others would have reported Jesus to the Bishop, left the church or left God entirely. However, in the face of all these seemingly rejections from Jesus, this woman remained calm and focus on Jesus, whom she trusted. Her faith is a challenge to all of us today and our society where people are easily offended, lack the knowledge of content and ability to even take jokes. This woman understood the content in which Jesus was talking with her; it was all about her faith and being a member of the household of Israel.   

            How did this woman become a member of the household of Israel? It was by her faith. This woman and Saint Paul became a member of God’s household by their faith. The bible says, “The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer” (Isaiah 56: 5-7).  Jesus said to her, “be it done to you as you believe (Mathew 15: 28). Jesus as a teacher was using this woman’s story to teach his disciples, and all of us the demands of faith. Many of us have this feeling of entitlement and as such have already fashioned a way and time frame, they want God to answer them. Unfortunately, this is not the way God works. We need to come to God in humility and meekly lay ourselves bare before Jesus. 

            As we read and hear about Jesus teachings on faith, how will you and I allow it to penetrate our lives? What will you and I do differently?  Will we bring our sons and daughters who are on drugs or living ungodly lives to Jesus for healing as the woman did for her daughter who was tormented by an evil spirit? Will we swallow our pride and bring our marriage disputes to Jesus, no matter how difficult and how long it has been and ask Jesus for help?

            Let us challenge ourselves positively. Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, “Let it be done for you as you wish.” This woman demonstration of faith got her a title from Jesus as a woman of great faith and more importantly, her daughter's health was restored. The bible says “without faith no one can please God” (Hebrews 11:6-8). Therefore, let us go to God in faith bearing in mind that there are no disappointments or will there be regrets for anyone who will take his problems to Jesus in faith. For in him is our strength and help.  Amen!