5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.

This Syrophoenician woman sure had some chutzpah! When Jesus seemed to refuse her request to heal her daughter, she wouldn’t have it. Perhaps she understood that Jesus wasn’t rejecting her. Perhaps she sensed that, even though his mission was first to the people of Israel, he wasn’t pushing her aside. Rather, he was inviting her to step out in faith.

And look at how she responded! She took a risk and refused to take no for an answer. She was demonstrating her faith, as some of the heroes of the Old Testament did. Think of Abraham, who boldly bargained with God not to destroy Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33). Or Moses, who risked divine vengeance as he begged God not to punish the Israelites for worshipping the golden calf (Exodus 32:9-14). Or even Gideon, who balked at the assurance that he was the “mighty warrior” chosen to defeat Israel’s enemies—so he asked God for a sign to prove it (Judges 6:1-22).

Maybe, like this Syrophoenician woman or those in the examples above, Jesus is inviting you to step out in faith. Like them, you can learn to approach Jesus respectfully but boldly. Maybe your spouse didn’t get the promotion you felt she deserved, and the injustice of the situation gnaws at your heart. Have the confidence to go before the Lord and tell him, “This just doesn’t make sense!” Maybe plans for a much-needed vacation or reunion fell through; pour out your disappointment to the Lord. When you’ve been praying for a friend with a terminal illness for what seems like forever, take the risk of looking foolish and keep on petitioning the Lord for a healing.

It’s tempting to play it safe and ignore the promptings in your heart to approach the Lord boldly. It might be easier to resign yourself to the status quo and assume that things just aren’t meant to get any better. But at times like those, remember the woman in today’s Gospel. Who knows what Jesus might do when you take a risk, refuse to give up, and keep asking him to hear and answer you?

“Lord, teach me how to pray with fearlessness!”

Genesis 2:18-25
Psalm 128:1-5
Mark 7:24-30