Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.
She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a
Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out
of her daughter. Mark 7:25–26
A parent’s love is powerful. And the woman in this story clearly
loves her daughter. It is that love that drives this mother to seek
out Jesus in the hope that He will free her daughter from the demon
who possessed her. Interestingly, this woman was not of the Jewish
faith. She was a Gentile, a foreigner, but her faith was very real
and very deep.
When Jesus first encountered this woman, she begged Him to free her
daughter from the demon. Jesus' response was at first surprising.
He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right
to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” In
other words, Jesus was saying that His mission was first to the
people of Israel, the chosen people of the Jewish faith. They were
the “children” of whom Jesus was speaking, and the Gentiles, such
as this woman, were the ones referred to as “the dogs.” Jesus spoke
this way to this woman not out of rudeness but because He could see
her deep faith, and He wanted to give her an opportunity to
manifest that faith for all to see. And so she did.
The woman responded to Jesus, “Lord, even the dogs under the table
eat the children’s scraps.” Her words were not only exceptionally
humble but were also based on deep faith and a deep love for her
daughter. As a result, Jesus responds with generosity and
immediately frees her daughter from the demon.
In our own lives, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we
deserve the mercy of God. We can think that we have a right to
God’s grace. And even though Jesus deeply desires to pour forth His
grace and mercy in superabundance on our lives, it is essential
that we fully understand our unworthiness before Him. The
disposition of this woman’s heart sets for us a perfect example of
how we must come to our Lord.
Reflect, today, upon the beautiful example of this woman of deep
faith. Prayerfully read her words over and over. Try to understand
her humility, her hope, and her love for her daughter. As you do,
pray that you will be able to imitate her goodness so as to share
in the blessings she and her daughter received.
My merciful Lord, I trust in Your perfect love for me and for
all peoples. I pray especially for those who carry heavy burdens
and for those whose lives are deeply intertwined with evil. Please
set them free, dear Lord, and welcome them into Your family so that
they become true children of Your Father. May I have the humility
and faith I need to help bring forth this abundance of grace for
others. Jesus, I trust in You.
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