Thoughts for the Day

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In the previous chapter Matthew has challenged the Jewish leaders whose opposition is growing more vociferous, and now he moves north, 50 miles from Capernaum, into the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon. Here he can teach his disciples in relative peace without the thousands following him. Interestingly Matthew calls the woman who comes to him by the old-style name of "Canaanite", which goes back centuries to when Abraham arrived. At the time of Jesus, though, the Canaanites had mostly left and this was Phoenician country with two large port cities of Tyre and Sidon.

Jesus' words to the woman are stern, but he knows his time is limited and he is called to be the Messiah to the Jews, but her determination wins through, and he heals her daughter. However, the most unusual thing about this incident is that Jesus although unrecognized by Israel's leaders in Jerusalem, here, is recognised immediately as the Messiah by a pagan woman. In this story we see a foretaste of what was to happen after Jesus' resurrection. Jesus would largely be denied by his own people, but recognised by the Gentile world.

In our world we should always be on the lookout for how God works in ways we don't expect. Sometimes when we are 'tuned in' to God, we will hear His voice from those who are not Christian, and through our secular society.

Heavenly Father
help us to recognise Your voice
where we don't expect it.
May we learn to hear Your
still, small voice
amid the noise and chaos
of our world
and may we respond to Your call
to work for Your Kingdom
in the world.
Amen.