The Faith of a Foreigner

~~~ Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 ~~~ Psalm 67 ~~~ Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 ~~~ 

~~~ Matthew 15:21-28 ~~~ 

The Canaanite woman argues with Jesus, makes her point, 

and gets blessed with his mercy and compassion.

Is it possible for us to change God's mind?

This woman took a risk. She felt she had nothing to loose,

 since her daughter was so ill.

I was thinking about the two health care workers

 who recently contracted the Ebola virus.

They agreed to be given an untested experimental cure, 

because they had nothing to loose.

They would most likely have died, so they took the chance.

It seems to be working, but if it had not they would

 have given much needed results to the doctors.

The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,

ministering to him,

loving the name of the LORD,

and becoming his servants—

...them I will bring to my holy mountain

and make joyful in my house of prayer;

The Canaanite woman was a foreigner, but that did not
 stop her from coming to Jesus.

Her faith, in contrast to many others
 who even walked with Jesus, was greater.

She was not going to take 'no' for an answer.
She was not going to turn and walk away quietly.

How many times do we get discouraged
when we think God is not listening...
when it seems he is not going to answer our prayers?

There is much we can learn from these few verses.
Jesus appeared to be turning this mother away.
Her plea seems to have fallen on deaf ears,
in the end her daughter was healed.

This may have been the instant in time when Jesus redefined his mission.
Was he only sent to save the people of Israel
or was there a more inclusive plan?

Anyone who has faith will not be turned away.
Anyone who has faith will not be denied the mercy of the Lord.

Sometimes we find ourselves feeling like a foreigner,
estranged from Jesus.
This is exactly when we need to come to him with these words...

Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! 

Jesus will answer our prayers even
 in those times when we feel as if we are foreigners.

A foreigner with faith is better than a member with little or no faith.

There is always a blessing to increase our faith...
a blessing to exercise our faith...

a blessing to speak to the Lord of our needs.
~~~Peace~~~