“…But Even the Dogs…” – A Reflection

Charles Spurgeon, in The Salt-Cellars, observed, “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” Imagine coming to church hoping for a new and better life, only to be discouraged by the words or actions of those you meet. How, then, do we understand Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21–28? She comes to Jesus with a desperate plea for her suffering daughter. At first, Jesus is silent. The disciples want her sent away, and the conversation that follows could easily be heard as harsh and discouraging. Yet she refuses to give up. How would you respond if you were in her situation?

Many Christian interpreters believe Jesus allowed this difficult exchange so that the woman’s extraordinary faith might be revealed. Others wrestle with the apparent harshness of his words. Yet the woman does not allow silence, rejection, or barriers to overcome her faith. She believes that even the smallest expression of God’s mercy is enough to transform her situation. She replies, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Jesus responds, “Woman, great is your faith!” and her daughter is healed. She becomes one of the few people in the Gospels whose faith Jesus describes as “great.”

Faith could mean continuing to pray when God seems silent, persevering when circumstances discourage us, and trusting that God’s mercy is greater than the barriers before us. When God seems silent, what helps you continue to trust and seek Him?