PERSEVERENCE IN FAITH
Today, the gospel speaks about the virtue of perseverance. Perseverance in prayer with faith is the sign of deep faith. The Canaanite woman sets an example in this regard. In spite of Jesus’ repeated negative answers to her plea, she kneels before Jesus and says “Sir, help me”.This gesture of humility made her persevere in her asking and win favor.
According to Isaiah’s understanding everyone who keeps the Sabbath and holds fast to God’s decrees and covenants will encounter God’s favour. The Canaanite woman whose daughter is possessed by a demon probably knows that she too has a right before God. What Jesus is checking as he interacts with the woman is whether she has faith in him which is the sole condition to win God’s favour in the new era of salvation brought by Jesus for admittance into the new community of believers. The woman passes the test brilliantly as she has a tremendous understanding of the God of Israel and gets her daughter healed. Faith is our deciding point in our relationship with Jesus. What is the quality of our faith? Does it match the faith shown by the woman who was not of Jewish faith?
Liturgical materials for 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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