21And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
A Canaanite woman considered an outsider, approaches Jesus, pleading for her demon-possessed daughter's healing. At first, Jesus rejects her saying he is here for the children of Israel. “It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She replies "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." I suppose she is saying that there is something of your graces that others do not appreciate or waste that I can use. It is a great act of faith and Christ rewards it by healing her daughter. Loving Father, give me the faith to take the smallest of your graces and use them to bring light and give life.
ReplyDeleteBard:Strengths:
DeleteYou accurately capture the key elements of the story.
You identify the woman's faith as the central theme.
You connect the passage to the idea of making the most of available resources.
Areas for Improvement:
While you correctly identify the woman's faith, you might explore the deeper implications of her comparison to a dog. It suggests a sense of humility and dependence on God's mercy.
The passage also highlights Jesus' compassion and willingness to go beyond cultural boundaries. You might explore this aspect further.
The woman's request challenges the disciples' understanding of God's mission. This could be a fruitful area for reflection.
Additional Thoughts:
The passage could be seen as a model for interfaith dialogue and understanding.
You might consider the implications of Jesus' initial response for our understanding of His character and mission.
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a good understanding of the passage.