In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus turn someone away. Jason Quino McCreery, SJ, reflects on the persistence of the Canaanite woman and how we must also be persistent in prayer. Based on the readings for Sunday, August 16, 2020.
Sometimes, when we pray to God, we need to have a little bit of persistence.
Hi, I’m Jason Quino McCreery, and this is my One-Minute Reflection.
We have a strange Jesus in today’s gospel story: he actually refuses a woman asking for her daughter to be healed.
According to Matthew, because the woman was a Canaanite, not an Israelite, Jesus tells her to get lost. But she doesn’t. She goes and falls on the ground before him. She asks, even begs, Jesus, three times before he agrees.
She is persistent. And Jesus then gives her what she asks for.
Pope Francis says to “practice…this prayer of asking and begging for consolation.” We, like the Canaanite woman, must not be afraid to beg God to hear us. Even if it feels like God isn’t listening, or even if Jesus refuses us the first time. Or the second time.
We must be persistent. If we are willing to beg for consolation, we will find joy and love with God.