FAITH IN THE MERCY OF GOD

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7/Psalm 67/Romans 11:13-15, 29-32/Matthew 15:21-28 

Today's Sunday Gospel talks about the encounter of Jesus with a Canaanite woman. A Canaanite woman goes to Jesus to persuade Him to cure her daughter. What happened to the woman's daughter? Her daughter is possessed by a demon. The Canaanite woman does not hesitate to go to Jesus, because she knows and believes that Jesus would help her and her daughter. 

Jesus tests the woman's faith in two ways. The first test was when Jesus said that He came for the Israelites, not the Gentiles. Jesus tells the woman that He can not help her and her daughter because they do not belong to the house of Israel. The woman and her daughter are outsiders, in other words. Because the woman and her daughter are not Israelites, Jesus tells them that He can't help them. He does not help outsiders. Quite racist of Jesus though. 

The second test was when Jesus calls the woman a dog. Who would not feel offended if a person is being called a dog by someone else? None. Isn't it surprising to see that Jesus calls a person an offending name? Yes, it sure is surprising to see Jesus calling someone an insulting name. Calling the woman a dog is very insulting. Jesus just used an insulting term towards a human being. Didn't Jesus teach about the love and mercy of God? Didn't Jesus teach about being loving and merciful towards our neighbors? His teachings are the complete opposite of the actions He is displaying in the Gospel. 

But, the Canaanite woman does not relent. Instead, she perseveres at remains patient. Her faith in Jesus helps her keep her ground. She does not complain about Jesus calling her offensive things. The Canaanite woman is already used to insults similar to what Jesus called her. The woman probably encountered other Jews at that time that called her a dog. For the Canaanite woman, nothing is new for her when Jesus calls her a dog because she is already used to it. 

Nothing was able to stop the Canaanite woman to stop asking Jesus for help. Her deep faith helped her remain patient, despite the efforts of Jesus and the disciples to make her leave. She could have left when Jesus refused to help her, but she did not. Instead, the woman persevered in asking Jesus for help. The Canaanite woman was determined to ask Jesus to cure her daughter. She would not back down. She would not surrender. She has passed the test of Jesus. The woman has showed her strong faith. 

Jesus was pleased at how the Canaanite woman displayed her deep faith. The Lord was moved at the Canaanite woman's faith. The Canaanite woman has passed the test of the Lord Jesus. Because of how the woman showed her faith in Jesus, Jesus grants her request. Jesus cures the daughter of the Canaanite woman. Jesus showed His mercy towards the Canaanite woman and her daughter because the Canaanite woman displayed her deep faith in the Lord. 

The Canaanite woman was rewarded for her deep faith. The faith of the Canaanite woman is a beautiful example for all of us. If we have faith in the mercy of God, just like the Canaanite woman in the Gospel, the Lord will show His mercy towards us. God may test our faith, just like Abraham and the Canaanite woman in the Gospel. We have to show that we have deep faith in God in the test He gives us. Once we have passed the test of God, God will show His mercy towards us. 

Have faith in the mercy of God. God shows His mercy towards everyone who has faith and trusts in Him. If it seems that the Lord is not answering our prayers, just like the Canaanite woman in today's Gospel reading, He is just testing our faith. Once we have passed the test of the Lord God, He will show His mercy towards us. God's mercy endures forever.