THE POWER OF A PERSISTENT FAITH

 

Homily for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7, Romans 11:13-15, 29-32, Matthew 15:21-28

 

The gospel reading of this twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time presents us with the encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28). The Canaanite woman approached Jesus, seeking help for her demon-possessed daughter. She cried out to Jesus for mercy, but initially, Jesus did not respond to her. His disciples even urged him to send her away, as she kept calling out after them. Eventually, Jesus engaged with the woman, stating that his mission was primarily to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and that it is not good to give to dogs what is meant for children. Still, the persisted until she got the favor she sought.

This encounter holds a lot of lessons for us. The first lesson we learn is that as Christians, our faith in God must be unwavering and our hope persistent. It is not enough to say that we have faith in God; our faith must be one that does not easily give up especially in the face of obstacles and challenges. As we saw in the gospel passage, the Canaanite woman’s faith was a flame that refused to be extinguished, even in the face of apparent silence from Jesus. Her daughter’s affliction compelled her to approach Jesus, and she persisted despite initial disregard and ridicule from both Jesus and his disciples. Her story echoes through time, inviting us to reflect on the strength of our own faith in God. One question calling for an answer is: how often do we continue to pray and seek God’s presence, even when it seems our petitions go unanswered?

Also, Jesus’ initial response to the woman that he was sent only to the lost tribe of the house of Israel might perplex us, but it unveils an essential lesson. It confronts us with our own tendency to create barriers between “us” and “them,” often out of cultural or societal norms. Our society today is divided across tribal, religious, racial, and gender lines. But then, Jesus’ eventual embrace of the woman exemplifies his all-encompassing love, and challenges us to break down the walls that separate us from those who seem different from us. We are called to cultivate hearts that mirror the all-embracing heart of Jesus; hearts that reach out to all, transcending boundaries of ethnicity, social status, and belief.

In addition, the woman’s gesture of kneeling before Jesus displays her profound humility while her plea for help reveals a heart that recognizes its dependence on God. This humility resonates with Jesus’ teachings in the gospel reading of yesterday on becoming like little children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:13-15). In a world that often values self-sufficiency and pride, this encounter urges us to embrace the humility of surrendering our worries, fears, and desires to God’s care.

The metaphor of “children’s bread” and “dogs” is a poignant reminder of God’s overflowing grace. The woman’s response reveals a profound insight: even the tiniest crumb from God’s table is a feast of blessing. How often do we overlook God’s abundant gifts, fixating on what we lack rather than appreciating what we have? The lesson before us is for us to open our eyes to the countless ways God’s grace surrounds us, even in the seemingly small gestures of love and provision.

Lastly, let us learn to imitate the woman’s relentless persistence. Like her, let us be reminded that achieving our goals, especially those that truly matter, often requires tenacity and a refusal to be deterred by setbacks. The woman’s unwavering determination encourages us to push through difficulties and setbacks, even when the path ahead seems tough. Her story teaches us the importance of not being swayed by external limitations or negative voices. When pursuing our goals, we must remember that challenges and doubters are a part of the journey, but they need not dictate our path and choice. May God help us.