To read the texts click on the texts: Num 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35; Mt 15:21-28
The story of the healing of the daughter of the Canaanite
woman is our text for today. This story is found also in Mark 7:24-30, but Mark
identifies the woman as a Syrophoenician. Matthew’s mention of “Tyre and Sidon”
(Mark has only Tyre) and identifying the woman as a Canaanite results in an
emphasis that Jesus has entered Gentile territory. This is also emphasised by
the fact that Matthew does not have Jesus enter a house (like Mark does). In
Matthew, Jesus does not enter the houses of Gentiles.
The woman addresses
him with the title that only believers use in Matthew namely “Lord”. Despite an
initial rejection, the woman perseveres in her request and continues to address
Jesus as Lord. Jesus’ direct response to the woman is harsh and must be
interpreted as a rejection. The analogy is indeed strong. However, the woman
seems undeterred, and for the third time addresses Jesus as Lord, and continues
to plead her cause. Jesus interprets such perseverance as “great faith”, and
immediately heals the woman’s daughter even from a distance.
The woman shows not only perseverance and faith but also the ability not
to let words get her down. The harsh words of Jesus spoken not in jest or with
a twinkle in his eye (because nothing in the text warrants such an explanation)
would have resulted in a lesser person treating it as an affront. The woman
does not such thing. She knows what she wants and is determined to get it. She
knows that while sticks and stones may break her bones, words can never hurt
her.
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