March 19, 2025
Woof - Part 3
Matthew 15:22-23
03/19/2025
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region
came out and was crying, ``Have mercy on me, O
Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely
oppressed by a demon.''
23 But he did not answer her a word. And his
disciples came and begged him, saying, ``Send her
away, for she is crying out after us.''
This week we are looking at an incident in Jesus' life which
was recorded in Matthew's Gospel. Jesus had left the area around
Jerusalem and was in the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out
and was crying, ``Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of
David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.''
But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples
came and begged him, saying, ``Send her away, for she
is crying out after us.''
It is obvious from Matthew's account that this woman was
persistent in her request. Eventually the disciples got tired of
her impassioned request. Did they ask that Jesus cure the
woman's daughter, thus bringing silence and peace? If so, the
disciples were acting as loving friends, ones who pray on behalf
of another, imploring God's blessings in time of trouble. We
would hope this is the case.
The other possibility, the disciples craved silence more
than seeing the woman helped. They possibly did not care if the
woman's daughter was healed, only that the irritation stop. This
often is the way we look at the plight of others, with
indifference and apathy, seeing our own benefit over the needs of
our neighbor. If this is the case, the disciples were not acting
with Christian love but out of selfish motives.
When we are confronted with someone's needs, we ask our
heavenly Father to give us the strength to help, to be the answer
to their prayer, to reflect God's love by serving our neighbor.
May our Lord open our eyes to see our neighbor's needs, and
our hearts to act to help them in times of trouble. Amen.