Matthew 15
In today’s episode of a Canaanite woman whose daughter is tormented by a demon, Jesus doesn’t heal this foreign woman’s daughter immediately at her request.
At the first request, Jesus does not even answer her. It looks like willful disregard. But, apparently, she keeps asking for mercy. And the disciples of Jesus are disturbed and they ask Jesus to chase her away. Then, Jesus declares that he was sent only for the Jews. Clearly, it is a racial preference. But she does not give up and asks again. Then, Jesus takes another step further. He degrades her and her race to beasts. Woe, now, this is racism. At least I don’t have to call Jesus a misogynist here. But this pagan woman does not hesitate to accept this unfair contempt. She asks for mercy while lowering herself to a domestic animal. Now, it seems that Jesus runs out of his ammo. He surrenders to her request. And he even praises her faith.
Many people stop praying when there is no answer. People turn away from the Lord when they see other people are blessed while they are left in misery and agony. People lose faith and blame God when things get worse and worse.
We don’t know why the Lord keeps silent when we pray. We can’t guess why the Lord let misfortunes and disasters happen to us. It is hard to believe that the Lord just watches us sliding down to deeper and deeper troubles.
It is easy to pray when we face difficulties. But it’s never easy to be humble when we are not answered for our prayers. If I may instead receive the virtue of true humility at the end of all my prayers, I will be satisfied, for only humble children may enter the kingdom of heaven.
