VII.
What have you come to think of the conversation between the Canaanite woman and Jesus (and the disciples perspective and comment)?

Let’s slowly read this passage once again and try to see the entire scene as it unfolds before you.

VIII.
Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSVue)

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 from that moment.

IX.
Have there been times you were on your way someplace and did not want to be delayed?

What happens when you are delayed?

How do you respond?

Do you look for a way around the delay? Do you become impatient? Very impatient? Do you sense you are in more of a rush and might even not pay attention to what is going on? Not fully notice the cause for the delay?

How often are we so preoccupied by our own thoughts or plans that we fail to pay attention to what is “right in front of us”?

Jesus’ disciples give me the impression they did not have time or interest in encountering this shouting woman. And I guess that means they were not interested in what need and what pain might have brought her to confront Jesus.

She and Jesus do have a conversation. Jesus recognized the depth of her need and her faith and responded to both.

Do we have time, patience, and energy to pay attention to what happens around us and who we encounter on our journeys?

Do we listen? Do we see? Are we present?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}