A Canaanite Woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon had a child that was troubled by an unclean spirit. She heard about Jesus when he came into the region and came and fell at his feet and asked him to cure her daughter (Matthew 15: 21-22; Mark 7:24-26). How did she express her faith?
She cried unto Jesus saying “have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil”. The deciples however sought to send her away. Jesus explained to her that he is sent only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” and that those “children [should] first be filled” (Matthew 15:23-24; Mark 7:27).
Yet still the Woman “worshipped [Jesus] saying, “Lord, help me”. He answered “it is not [good] to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs”. In utmost humility she replied, saying “truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the [children’s] crumbs which fall from their masters’ table (Matthew 15: 23-27; Mark 7:27-28). Jesus was moved by this statement and said, “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt”; and her daughter who lay in bed at her home was made whole from the devil that very hour (Matthew 15:28; Mark 7:29-30).
The Canaanite Woman’s faith expression could occur in situations where a non-religious person seeks deliverance or help from a religious order and is treated as an outsider yet is humble to persist in order to achieve their desire. For example people of other beliefs than in Jesus Christ, may not share the doctrines and practices of a Church, but can believe in the power of the Holy Spirit working through the name of Jesus Christ and be helped or saved.
- THE PENITENT THIEF IS SAVED ON THE CROSS
