Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 15:21-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Verse 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." Verse 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." Verse 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Verse 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." Verse 26He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." Verse 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Verse 28Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Devotion
All summer long I have been driving my son to the weight room of the high school six miles away from home. As an entering 9th grader, he is preparing for football. He is small, but strong. I hope his persistence pays off and he gets a chance to play ball this season. Persistence can make the difference between success and failure in sports, school or work. Persistence also seems to make a difference in our life of faith. The Canaanite woman in our gospel lesson is so persistent in advocating for her ill daughter that she not only gets the attention of Jesus, but gets the response she is looking for. Jesus heals her daughter even though he does not originally see it as his calling to do so. God calls us to a life of prayer so connected to him that we are able to move him to respond to our needs.
Prayer
God keep us so intent on you that our prayer continually flows to you like incense. May our prayers be faithful. Hear us in our need and help us to pray as we ought. Amen.