Monday, August 11, 2008

Today’s text

Matthew 14:21-28

Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And suddenly out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, 'Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.' But he said not a word in answer to her. And his disciples went and pleaded with him, saying, 'Give her what she wants, because she keeps shouting after us.' He said in reply, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.' But the woman had come up and was bowing low before him. 'Lord,' she said, 'help me.' He replied, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to little dogs.' She retorted, 'Ah yes, Lord; but even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, you have great faith. Let your desire be granted.' And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Prayer

I love this woman, Jesus. She does nothing to deny the human state. To be human is to need, and there is no denial in her, no attempt to hide the crying want at the core of her being, no phony presumption, no charade.

You should recognize her need, Jesus. It is the same one that moved you. Her need is shaped by a burning love for a child, a child who could not know the abundance of life and joy you intend--that love and life we would deny ourselves to give to our little ones.

You know that love, Jesus. It is the purest fire of burning desire. And it this of which your heart is composed, unsullied by anything less.

It this why you toyed with her? To see if it were real in her, too? To draw from her depths what you suspected was there? To provoke a loving heart to reveal the love that is its life and pain?

I don’t know. But I am certain it is love that kept her pushing on despite your rebuff. It is love that considered personal insult of no consequence in the face of her beloved’s need. And it is love that knows that even the crumbs of God’s love are more than enough for us.

Pr. David L. Miller