By Kathleen Bordo Crombie
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.” ~ Matthew 15:22
As Jesus and his disciples walked through a Gentile region, a Canaanite woman cried out repeatedly, begging that he have mercy on her and release her daughter from demonic possession. Jesus replied to the woman that he “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Her Canaanite ancestors once possessed the Promised Land before being conquered by the Israelites. The Canaanites and Jews despised each other, yet this woman swallowed her pride and humbled herself before Jesus in the presence of fellow Gentiles. She called Jesus “Lord” and “Son of David.” She knew who Jesus was and that he possessed divine power to release her possessed daughter. This Gentile-Canaanite woman had acquired a desperately deep faith in a vulnerable situation and would not be silenced.
But Jesus took his time to respond to her, and the disciples were clearly annoyed by her persistence – she kept calling out just the same.
God Can Do All Things
I have great respect for this woman. As a very marginal Catholic many years ago, I was on my knees begging God to heal my son from Hodgkin’s disease. I didn’t know where else to go or what to do, but I did know that God could do all things. And believe me, I was persistent, just like this Gentile woman! There are times in our lives when we decidedly turn to God in our desperation and vulnerability, and that’s when the Holy Spirit rushes in, IF the door to our hearts and souls are open, even if just a crack, to receive God’s love, mercy, and healing.
Persistence in Prayer
Jesus tells the begging woman that it is not right to give the “children’s food” (his ministry) he brought for the Jews and give it to the Gentiles. Undeterred, she replied, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.” What a great comeback! Jesus immediately proclaimed in front of the Jews and Gentiles present, “Woman, great is your faith!” Then he had mercy on her and released her daughter from the demons within.
Praise God, this woman’s faithful persistence was rewarded. Praise God; my son was healed. Praise God he took pity on me and the Gentile woman as we begged God’s mercy for our children. Did we deserve such great gifts? No … no one does. But we serve a loving and merciful God who tells us to believe in him and be persistent in our prayers. I’m counting on that!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Son of David, has pity on us and our families. May we continue to be persistent in our prayer life as we seek your divine will in all things.
Call to Action
Can you offer prayer for someone’s conversion, return to the Catholic faith, emotional or spiritual healing? God hears every prayer we offer but answers in his way and in his time. Be persistent in your prayer!
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Dear Kathy! I’m so happy to know that your son was healed of his Cancer, that your prayers were answered as you asked, and that you are now a very faithful Catholic. God had other plans for my son, even though his wife and I and my husband and daughter prayed fervently that he’d live. He died, after only eight days, at 35 at the Mayo Clinic 12.16.19. (None of us knew that he had been suffering with this illness for the previous two years). I cannot explain the sadness and heartache, as his mother, that I feel. But, God had His reasons that, if I’m blessed enough to make it to Heaven, He will tell me why. I will never get “over” my beloved son’s death, but I am living through it, still breathing, and praying for my son’s soul. He had his Last Rites two hours before he died. It was the only thing I could be sure to have done for my boy. +JMJ+
Dear Gwen,
My heart goes out to you, my Sister in Christ! The thought of losing a child is pure anguish and sorrow. Then actually losing that child is pain that goes beyond our inadequate words to express. None of us understands how and/or why God makes the decisions he does about who to heal and who to call home. We pray so hard to heal our loved one — persistently begging the Lord’s healing hand. What I do know is that God hears each and every one of our prayers. Servant of God Irving “Francis” Houle would tell people that when we pray for healing, God grants either physical healing, or spiritual healing, or the grace to accept what is placed before them. But he would also say that praying for God’s will in all things is the best way to pray. You have accepted God’s will, made sure your son received Last Rites and was prepared for the journey into Eternal Life, and you pray still for the repose of his soul. Praise God! So now, turn to Our Lady as she knows your pain better than anyone, as she, too, lost her Son, Jesus Christ!
Kathleen, my husband and I had a granddaughter that was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s this past January and we like you prayed without ceasing for her. We are now awaiting her final scan and are trusting that God has heard our prayers for the lady 8 months.
JMJ, I am so very sorry to read about your son. I know we are not supposed to question but I am sure of one thing, God is using him in a mighty way in his kingdom .
Dear MM,
I’m saddened to hear about your granddaughter’s diagnosis! Let’s pray for total healing, but also for God’s will.
Lord, Jesus Christ, hear our prayer and grant this petition for healing. Amen.
Dear Kathleen! Thank you for your kindness. I hope you will let us know how your baby granddaughter’s scan goes. Praying with you that she will beat this Cancer. Love and Blessings from Gwen
+JMJ+ is an acronym for Jesus, Mary, Joseph. 😀
Thank you, ,Kathy. I persistently pray for my daughter, that she find her way back to God.
Ruth!
Don’t stop praying and asking God to intervene in your daughter’s life. May she encounter the Lord, in an undeniable way, that turns her faith life around. Know, too, that the prayers of a faithful mother are fruitful. Jesus, I Trust in You!
Excellent presentation and comparison of the can- aanite woman/mother to mother’s today, we all pray
For our children when they are in great need regardless of life’s circumstance, health physical or mental, pray life and so on so we can understand the Canaanite women in the gospel. Your discussion on the gospel readily identifies that truth and makes the message so relatable. I love the sharing of your own story as it certainly makes everything more relatable and understanding. May the grace of God be with you Kathy. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Judie!
May the Lord hear our persistent prayers and mercifully grant our petitions, because of our great faith in him and trust in his holy will. Amen
Thank you for this insightful article. It reminded me to bring everything to the Lord in prayer and to ask for the grace of acceptance of his will. I get so caught up in day to day activities that many time prayer falls through the cracks. My condolences and prayers to those here who have experienced tragic losses.
Thank you for your comment, Maureen. We do forget sometimes, but placing everything at the feet of the Lord is definitely how we should pray. In doing so, we are asking that God’s will be done and for the graces to embrace all that follows. Jesus, I Trust in You!