In today’s Gospel, the Canaanite woman shows us what great faith looks like. She comes to Jesus with a suffering heart, pleading for her daughter. Her daughter’s suffering has become her one prayer. But then something very difficult happens.
Jesus does not answer her. She cries out, and Jesus is silent. The disciples even want her sent away: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” But she refuses to leave. She comes closer and says: “Lord, help me.” Sometimes that is all we can pray. “Lord, help me.” “Lord, save my marriage.” “Lord, bring my son back.” “Lord, heal my daughter.” “Lord, strengthen my faith.”
There are moments in life when we pray, and it seems that God is silent. Nothing appears to change. And then we begin to wonder: Does God hear me? Does God really care? The Canaanite woman does not walk away. She does not say, “If Jesus doesn't want me, I don't want him.” Instead, she answers with humility and extraordinary faith. And Jesus finally declares: “O woman, great is your faith!”
What makes her faith great? She refused to give up on Jesus. Her faith was not based on getting an immediate answer. Her faith was based on knowing who Jesus is. She called him “Lord.” She believed that even a word from Jesus was enough. This is the kind of faith the Lord asks of us. Faith is not believing that God will always give us what we want. Faith is believing that God is still God even when he seems silent. Sometimes God answers immediately. Sometimes God makes us wait. Sometimes God answers in a way we did not expect. The Canaanite woman teaches us not to mistake God’s silence for God’s absence.
Perhaps today you are praying for something that has not changed. Don't stop praying. Perhaps you have been asking God for years. Don't give up. Perhaps you feel that heaven is silent. Don't conclude that God has abandoned you. Keep praying. Keep believing. Because the God who seems silent is still working. And ultimately, our faith is not faith in an answer. Our faith is faith in a Person, Jesus Christ.
May the Lord give us the faith of that Canaanite woman; a faith humble enough to kneel, courageous enough to ask, and persistent enough never to walk away from Jesus.
God is good, all the time!
Father Tony Udoh. MSP
Pastor of Holy Family
