1 Kgs 11:4-13
Psalm 106:3-4, 35-36, 37 and 40
Mark 7:24-30 Full Readings
Persistence in Prayer
Brethren, do you keep and protect handed to by your parents or even the legacy of your family? King Solomon, though given wisdom from God, failed keep the legacy of his father David, and from the first reading, "his heart was not entirely with the LORD, his God, as the heart of his father David had been." For this reason, the Lord passed a punishment on him and his sons that he will strip the kingdom from his sons. But because of David's faithfulness, he only left them with one tribe. This reading teaches us firstly to always keep and preserve the good legacy of our fore parents, or change to the best but not ruining to the worst. Secondly, the god acts of parents can always save their children just as David's faithfulness eased a punishment on David's sons. We see this same message in the gospel reading as the faith of the Syrophoenician woman heals his daughter. Parents always do goo to give your children a way in the future.
In the Gospel today, Jesus leaves the borders of Israel and enters the regions of Tyre and Sidon. (Presently these two cities are in Lebanon.) There Jesus encountered a woman identified in the scriptures as the Syrophoenician. In other words, the woman is of Syrian and Phoenician ancestry. The bottom-line is that the woman was not a Jewish woman; she was a foreigner. She must have heard of Jesus for her to run to him for assistance. Despite Jesus’ negative remark on her request, she did not give up, rather she accepted her status but persevered in her request. This show of humility and faith amazed Jesus such that he instantly granted her request. She went home in faith to find her demoniac daughter sober and delivered. The encounter with the Syrophoenician woman tells us that Jesus has no boundaries. Introduces him to all and sundry irrespective of creed.
This woman teaches us persistence and patience in prayer. Sometimes God delays to answer our prayer not that He doesn't want to give us what we ask but to test our patience and perseverance in asking and praying to him. Though He might not give us exactly what we ask, at the end, with our persistence in faith, He will give us what is best for us, for the good of our fellow brethren and that which gives Him glory. So don't be afraid but stand firm in faith and God will answer us.
In our own lives, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we deserve the mercy of God. We can think that we have a right to God’s grace. And even though Jesus deeply desires to pour forth His grace and mercy in superabundance on our lives, it is essential that we fully understand our unworthiness before Him and above all show great faith in him for it is faith that preforms miracles. The disposition of this woman’s heart sets for us a perfect example of how we must come to our Lord. She was not turned away by an answer from Jesus when he called her a dog but she embraced it, in faith, and responded as best she could. Jesus saw her faith and blessed her. Let us learn from this woman how to dialogue with the Lord with humor and openness, just as we are, and from there, let faith grow.
This Syrophoenician woman also teaches us great humility in prayer. Though she was regarded as a dog, she responded in humility, and stayed focused on what she was asking. In fact Jesus didn't mean to call her a dog but to test her humility, patience and faith. If some of us are called a dog, that would be the beginning of war and fight, but the woman passed the test and showed the highest humility that's why at last Jesus says, "woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted." Therefore brethren, in standing firm and persevering in faith, we need to be guided by humility as well.
Reflect today on how persistent you are in prayer and faith. Do you wait for God to respond to you or you automatically seek others ways to get what you wanted? Is your prayer accompanied with humility, for God listens to the humble and contrite heart? Pray for the gift of patience and humility today.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I trust you always and never doubt your loving care and mercy. Increase my faith in your saving help and deliver me from all evil and harm.
Be blessed
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