Our scripture this week is Matthew 15:21-28.
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
We hear Jesus proclaim “Woman, you have great faith” and that her daughter was immediately healed. Her faith in Jesus was the important part, but also important was her persistence. She was willing to do what ever it took to receive healing for her child.
Others have gone to great lengths to get Jesus’ attention and plead for His help. In Mark 10 we read of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who called out to Jesus over the crowd’s attempt to silence him. Mark 2 tells of a paralyzed man lowered through the roof of a house so Jesus could heal him. A woman who suffered for years risks being trampled by the crowd to touch His robe and is healed, as told in Mark 5.
All of these teach us to persist in our faith, that it is essential we are steadfast in our belief in the Lord. Jesus said that there would be obstacles and it would not be easy, but He promised to be with us always. Through persistent faith we can make a difference in the world.
Loving Lord, we are weak but You are strong. Help us to live in persistent faith, standing with You to heal creation. Amen.