The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” ²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” ²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” ²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. ²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” ²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. The relationship between Jesus and the Canaanite was characterized by love.   In so many ways Jesus’ encounter with this Canaanite…became a pivotal occasion for him to clarify that immediate, active, freeing love. Deliberate, engaging courageous love. Compassionate, responding love is always God’s answer to desperation and that this ‘freedom-giving’ kind of response, this ‘freedom-living’ kind of response, this ‘stepping across the line’ kind of response, this ‘going the distance’ kind of response paints a picture regarding the expansive freeing dynamic of God’s love!  For the disciples Jesus needed to expand or “free-up” the scope of God’s love. That it is for all nations and for peoples of all shapes and sizes and differences. Sometimes I wonder if we really believe that? And if I do… am I reflecting that? Am I, are we, acting on that? For the disciples Jesus needed to expand the scope of god’s love, and for the woman Jesus needed to expand or free up the nature of god’s love, that it cannot be manipulated or earned or formulated or begged for… that it is a gift… which in drawing near to the giver is offered unconditionally. That it is all about grace! Again I wonder… if I’ve really caught that?  For the disciples Jesus needed to expand or free-up the scope of god’s love and for the woman Jesus needed to expand the nature of god’s love, but for the little girl Jesus needed to expand the experience of god’s love, that it would set her free!