Today, we meet the Canaanite woman in the Gospel today. Perhaps this is a very confusing and complex Gospel to hear. So often, Jesus meets people in kindness and mercy when he is confronted with people who need healing or a miracle in their lives. This humble woman wants healing for her daughter who is possessed by a demon. Jesus first meets her requests for help with silence. Then when the woman kneels down and pleads before him, his response to that seems very harsh and unwarranted.
Yet, perhaps it helps to see the context of this story of the Canaanite woman. Right before this passage, the disciples were caught in a storm, crying out to Jesus for help. Peter gets out of the boat and walks toward Jesus, but starts to sink when he sees the impossibility in what he is doing. Jesus scolds Peter and the other disciples for their little faith. They have seen countless healing and miracles that Jesus has performed to proclaim the kingdom of God. Where is their faith in him?
Perhaps Jesus’ actions with the Canaanite woman were designed to test her faith. The Canaanite woman never gave up and persevered in her faith. Perhaps Jesus’ actions help her deepen her faith.
In the last couple weeks, with Bishop Kopacz and Father Kent Bowlds, I have met with the priests in the Diocese as we traveled to the six different deaneries throughout our Diocese. Earlier this week, we met with the deacons and lay ecclesial ministers of the Diocese through ZOOM meetings. We have been through a difficult challenging time in our Diocese these past couple of years. We are also enduring a very difficult time during this pandemic as well. These times call for great faith. They call for faith in times of adversity and challenging. During the pandemic, they call for a faith that is patient, creative, tenacious, and persevering. These times call for great faith on the part of all the priests, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers in our Diocese, on the part of all the faithful.
Right before Christmas, the parishioners in the towns of Paulding and Newton contacted me. They had not had masses in their parishes for a long time. They were having communion services themselves. Many of them are elderly. Many of their families had attended those parishes for generations. In fact, Paulding is the second oldest parish in our state. Yet, they persevered in their faith and asked for help. I try to get out to their parishes once a month for mass. In fact, I am going this Saturday. I admire their persistence and their great faith.
May the faith of the Canaanite woman call out to us today. In times of trial and challenge, the Canaanite woman is a great example of faith for us.
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