Friday, 13 May 2016 - "A Canaanite woman’s tenacious motherhood was rewarded"
Daily Scripture: Matthew 15:21 Yeshua left that place and went off to the region of Tzor and Tzidon. 22 A woman from Kena‘an who was living there came to him, pleading, “Sir, have pity on me. Son of David! My daughter is cruelly held under the power of demons!” 23 But Yeshua did not say a word to her. Then his talmidim came to him and urged him, “Send her away, because she is following us and keeps pestering us with her crying.” 24 He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isra’el.” 25 But she came, fell at his feet and said, “Sir, help me!” 26 He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s food and toss it to their pet dogs.” 27 She said, “That is true, sir, but even the dogs eat the leftovers that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Yeshua answered her, “Lady, you are a person of great trust. Let your desire be granted.” And her daughter was healed at that very moment.
Reflection Questions:
“The region of Tyre and Sidon” was Gentile territory, not Jewish. The disciples were no doubt nervous, wondering “What are we doing here?” They asked Jesus to send away the woman who sought healing for her daughter. Jesus at first gave the pleading woman answers that seemed rude. The rest of the story suggests strongly that those answers were a parody of the disciples’ biased attitudes. The mother didn’t give up, and Jesus rewarded her faith.
- Written words can’t show tone of voice or expression. Some scholars suggest that Jesus' seemingly harsh comments in verses 24 and 26 were a parody of the disciples’ attitudes. Might we understand them better if we imagine Jesus with an ironic edge to his voice, and a bit of a twinkle in his eye? Clearly, in the end, Jesus refused to ignore the mother’s plea, and sought to change the outlook the disciples expressed in verse 23. When has Jesus corrected or healed strained and broken relationships or attitudes for you?
- We sometimes wonder, “Why should I persist in prayer? God already knows what I need.” Was the mother’s persistence a sign that she thought Jesus needed more information about her need? In what ways did she show her motherly love (and perhaps even grow her faith) by refusing to give up in her persistent pleas that Jesus help her daughter?
Lord Jesus, you weren’t about to let ethnic or national prejudice keep you from responding to a mother’s heartfelt plea. All over our world, mother’s hearts will seek help for their children. Give me a willingness to do all I can to respond. Amen.
Insights from Ginger Rothhaas
Ginger Rothhaas is a seminary student at Saint Paul School of Theology and is serving in Congregational Care at The Church of the Resurrection.
When I read the story of the Canaanite Woman who repeatedly begged Jesus to heal her daughter, I feel the desperation leading her to advocate for her child in this way. She pursued Jesus as he traveled and then knelt in front of him, pleading, “Lord, help me!” I imagine her crying as she asked him for help, knowing this might be her last hope for a cure for her suffering daughter.
This is an intriguing story and is often the focus of scholarly debate about why Jesus replies the way he does. But I think we can agree that this is the story of a mother with a sick child who is desperate for help.
As a mother, I put myself in this story, imagining her unending love and helplessness for her suffering child. She will do anything to help her child, including throwing herself desperately in front of Jesus. The Canaanite mother was the voice for her daughter and did everything she could to help.
Many parents do this every day. My friend’s son, Drew, was diagnosed with diabetes at age 6. His mom, Ashley, learned to manage his illness, stick his little fingers to test his blood, and inject him with insulin. She said, “I am his pancreas now.” Through Ashley’s experience, I began to see parents as walking lifelines for their children.
Ashley’s faith grew through this journey with Drew. And because of his illness, Drew knows God in a deeper way than most kids his age. I know this is shaping his calling and he will grow into a great man.
I would love to know what this cured Canaanite girl went on to do in her lifetime. Did she share her story with others? Did she become a disciple of Jesus? Did she later thank her mother for seeking out Jesus that day? Did she recognize she was a walking miracle?
To mothers reading this, Happy Mother’s Week! (I’m going to work with Hallmark on this!) You are lifelines for your children. You advocate for the voiceless. You kneel before God to ask for help. You remind children that they are walking miracles.
If you feel called to love and advocate for a child who needs your help, please visit http://www.cor.org/achildshope. There are many ways listed there to share your love!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
When I read the story of the Canaanite Woman who repeatedly begged Jesus to heal her daughter, I feel the desperation leading her to advocate for her child in this way. She pursued Jesus as he traveled and then knelt in front of him, pleading, “Lord, help me!” I imagine her crying as she asked him for help, knowing this might be her last hope for a cure for her suffering daughter.
This is an intriguing story and is often the focus of scholarly debate about why Jesus replies the way he does. But I think we can agree that this is the story of a mother with a sick child who is desperate for help.
As a mother, I put myself in this story, imagining her unending love and helplessness for her suffering child. She will do anything to help her child, including throwing herself desperately in front of Jesus. The Canaanite mother was the voice for her daughter and did everything she could to help.
Many parents do this every day. My friend’s son, Drew, was diagnosed with diabetes at age 6. His mom, Ashley, learned to manage his illness, stick his little fingers to test his blood, and inject him with insulin. She said, “I am his pancreas now.” Through Ashley’s experience, I began to see parents as walking lifelines for their children.
Ashley’s faith grew through this journey with Drew. And because of his illness, Drew knows God in a deeper way than most kids his age. I know this is shaping his calling and he will grow into a great man.
I would love to know what this cured Canaanite girl went on to do in her lifetime. Did she share her story with others? Did she become a disciple of Jesus? Did she later thank her mother for seeking out Jesus that day? Did she recognize she was a walking miracle?
To mothers reading this, Happy Mother’s Week! (I’m going to work with Hallmark on this!) You are lifelines for your children. You advocate for the voiceless. You kneel before God to ask for help. You remind children that they are walking miracles.
If you feel called to love and advocate for a child who needs your help, please visit http://www.cor.org/achildshope. There are many ways listed there to share your love!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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