The Canaanite woman had nothing to lose. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
She followed her heart.
Her daughter was suffering from a demon-possession that no “shaman” or “physician” or “holy man” could cure.
She unfortunately was a member of a “condemned race” that to the Jewish nation – was nothing more than a “despised, long-forgotten and hopeless people.” They were unclean. They were a nasty group of people – going all the way back in time to Joshua ben Nun. They were inhabiting the land when the Jews arrived. They were pushed out.
They were known for inter-marrying with anyone. They sacrificed their own children. They were polytheistic.
We don’t get it!
Then, like now, there was more than enough racial profiling, hatred, bigotry and intolerance to go around.
The Jews hated the Canaanites. They were an ancient enemy. They were an enemy the Jews would never forget.
She should not have been talking to Jesus.
Jews and Canaanites had nothing in common and they wanted to keep it that way.
She had no right therefore to make a request of Jesus.
But we understand that she had nothing to lose and quite possibly everything to gain.
It was all about “her daughter.”
The Canaanite woman did not yell out a threat, but cried a humble plea. She called him “Lord” and the “Son of David,” on purpose.
She was admitting to him that she knew he was the Jewish Messiah, the Son of God, the “anointed one” and powerful enough to “save.”
She believed he could provide “relief and wholeness” for her daughter.
She prayed that he would.
She prayed that a thousand years of racial prejudice and hatred would not be in his heart.
It was more than worth the risk.
Her motivation, her cry was not even for herself, but she “begged Jesus” – like any street urchin – with a believing heart for the sake of her daughter, seeking relief and healing on her behalf.
How she must have prayed.
If only he would stop.
If only he would listen.
If only he would hear her out. If only he would give her a chance to speak.
How afraid and scared she must have been.
But those fears and thoughts would not stand in her way. She was persistent.
The Canaanite woman teaches us a great deal about the nature and practice of faith.
Take just a moment and consider her situation. The woman’s traditions and her people’s history offered her little comfort when confronted with a crisis much bigger than her herself.
They told her to not expect anything from the Jewish rabbi.
They told her that the Jews cannot offer her any help according to their own traditions and laws.
And yet this woman “persisted and pushed” through conventional wisdom and refused to give up.
Her reward was a gift of “divine mercy” and the discovery of a God who gives “unending grace” to those who ask of him.
And look at how this woman behaved at her darkest hour.
She answered Jesus’ silent and initial replies by continuing to beg for his help.
She essentially says: “I admit that I am no more than a dog, Jesus. But even little dogs are granted mercy from their masters’ table. Even they are permitted to eat up the scraps that fall from their children’s plates.
So I don’t believe that you will do nothing for me, Jesus because I know you are merciful.
I’ve heard how you’ve helped other Gentiles. I’ve heard about the mercy you’ve shown for your people.
I believe in your “good news,” and so I refuse to believe that you will not help me in my distress .
Jesus was delighted with her answers.
He happily granted her request and we are forever blessed with her brave example.
This desperate mother pushed through her fears and the “nay saying of others” and she reached out in belief.
She expressed faith in spite of Jesus’ seeming indifference and was rewarded beyond her expectations when Jesus healed her daughter with but a word. Amen.