Perseverance in Faith

20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 17, 2014

Matthew 15:21-28

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish (Mat 15:28).”

Perseverance in Faith

Often, to be associated with animal may sound cool. “We are the growling tigers.” the students of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila proudly call themselves. Not only UST, many schools in Metro Manila associate themselves with animals. Blue Eagles, Red Lions, or Golden Stags to mention few. Yet, the opposite is also true. At times, being called as animals causes our ears burning. A man may run amok after someone shouts at him fat pig. In newspapers or magazines, the usual caricatures for corruptors are either rats or crocodiles.

Reading closely today’s Gospel, we find Jesus associated the Canaanite woman with a dog. Obviously here, to be put in the same level with ‘dog’ is not something encouraging. It is rather insulting if not debasing. It could have been much bearable if Jesus called her chiwawa or puddle instead! Looking into the totality of the text, Jesus at least did three unusual things. Firstly, He snubbed the woman crying in distress. Secondly, He refused to help because the Israelites were His priority and she was not an Israelite. Lastly, He compared the Jews with the master’s children yet the woman with a dog waiting under the table. This posts a greater question: if Jesus is full of compassion and loving, but why did he refuse to come up with His healing power? Why did Jesus treat this woman in terrible manner?

The answer may be difficult to grasp, but what the Canaanite woman experience is ours as well. In times of great challenge, we feel that God is so silent despite our effort to implore His help and mercy. At times, our wishes are denied. We pray for a speedy promotion, but then our boss tells us that it will not be ours in anytime soon. Sometimes, we also suffer pain and humiliation for our good and honest efforts. A father sold everything he has to save his daughter from bone cancer, yet not a single penny can buy her life back. Our brothers and sisters in Iraq now are facing great persecution. Some are slaughtered like animals. Hundred thousand flee from their homeland and wonder in hunger and dangers. This reminds us of the words of Jeremiah when he wept over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, “If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; If I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not (Jer 14:18).”  Yet, the world seems silent and blind. Life can be very devastating in the silence of God.

We then ask why God did this to us? A hint may be discovered in Jesus’ response to the woman’s faith, “Great is your faith, woman.” Jesus allowed these horrible things to the woman as a test of faith and her faith may grow greater. Indeed, the woman did not break, yet pressed on and emerged victorious. We are asked to hold firmly on our faith despite His apparent silence or refusal to help. Let us remember Job, the holy servant of God. He even suffered greatly and was humiliated by his friends. Yet, he never moved a single inch from his faith in God. Let us make the Canaanite woman as our model of resiliency, perseverance and faith. The Darkest moments of life take place not without any reason. In faith, we believe that God has a good reason for us.

 

Let us continue praying for our brothers and sisters in Iraq. Let our faith move a mountain.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP