Some reflections on the key to God's wisdom offered to us through the encounter Jesus had with a foreigner he met. The story is recounted in the scriptures suggested for this weekend's gatherings of God's beloved children.
Last weekend, there were some horrific happenings in the city of Charlottesville, North Carolina. The details and images of the car that plowed through crowds in that city were quickly broadcast across the continent and people reacted first with disbelief and then with varying levels of clarity as the details became more and more evident. Throughout the rest of the week, we have also heard sensational reports of similar terrifying acts that have taken place in Barcelona and in Turku (Finland). While these events capture our attention, I am not so convinced that we are as attentive to the actions of God in our lives, yet how different the world might be if we were to learn to see as He does: with mercy instead of judgment.
Today’s gospel passage places us with Jesus in the land of Tyre and Sidon (cf Mt 15:21). Both these cities are located in present-day Lebanon, north of the border that is shared between Lebanon and Israel. Jesus was in a foreign land. That’s the reason why he did not answer the woman who approached him and asked for his help (cf Mt 15:22-23). In contrast to our modern-day obsession for information – which seems to be bombarding us from all directions, and perhaps even blinding us to the presence of God – this woman had a gift which allowed her to recognize in Jesus a man of faith, a man with a merciful heart who could help to cure her daughter. In fact, it was her enduring faith and her persistence that motivated her to kneel before Jesus and to plead with him even when he and his disciples had tried to brush her off (cf Mt 15:25-27).
What lessons can we learn from this woman? Even when no one seemed to be listening, she continued her plea. Perhaps we too have known times when our prayers seem to be answered only with God’s silence. If God’s silence leads us to believe that he is no longer listening, we will also become more and more distant from Him. We see signs of such distance from God all around us – in the ever-growing insistence of so many who seem to prefer the sensationalism of the media to the wonder and awe of God’s handiwork, yet God is constantly knocking at the doors of our hearts, looking for opportunities to show us the warmth and the mercy that lie within his heart.
The prophet Isaiah was aware of God’s wisdom. He knew that God is always ready to welcome even foreigners ... who love the name of the Lord (Is 56:6). Saint Paul was living proof of this truth. He was a Roman, yet he came to believe in the power of God. Emboldened by this belief, he encouraged his fellow Romans to turn from their disobedience to God’s invitation and to open their eyes to the merciful presence of God (cf Rom 11:32).
It is the gift of God’s mercy that the Canaanite woman was seeking. We too must learn to seek this gift. Perhaps if we can learn to recognize it, we will learn to rely on it: to call out to God, presenting our needs persistently until he replies: Great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish! (Mt 15:28)
If only we could see as He sees
Today’s gospel passage places us with Jesus in the land of Tyre and Sidon (cf Mt 15:21). Both these cities are located in present-day Lebanon, north of the border that is shared between Lebanon and Israel. Jesus was in a foreign land. That’s the reason why he did not answer the woman who approached him and asked for his help (cf Mt 15:22-23). In contrast to our modern-day obsession for information – which seems to be bombarding us from all directions, and perhaps even blinding us to the presence of God – this woman had a gift which allowed her to recognize in Jesus a man of faith, a man with a merciful heart who could help to cure her daughter. In fact, it was her enduring faith and her persistence that motivated her to kneel before Jesus and to plead with him even when he and his disciples had tried to brush her off (cf Mt 15:25-27).
What lessons can we learn from this woman? Even when no one seemed to be listening, she continued her plea. Perhaps we too have known times when our prayers seem to be answered only with God’s silence. If God’s silence leads us to believe that he is no longer listening, we will also become more and more distant from Him. We see signs of such distance from God all around us – in the ever-growing insistence of so many who seem to prefer the sensationalism of the media to the wonder and awe of God’s handiwork, yet God is constantly knocking at the doors of our hearts, looking for opportunities to show us the warmth and the mercy that lie within his heart.
The prophet Isaiah was aware of God’s wisdom. He knew that God is always ready to welcome even foreigners ... who love the name of the Lord (Is 56:6). Saint Paul was living proof of this truth. He was a Roman, yet he came to believe in the power of God. Emboldened by this belief, he encouraged his fellow Romans to turn from their disobedience to God’s invitation and to open their eyes to the merciful presence of God (cf Rom 11:32).
It is the gift of God’s mercy that the Canaanite woman was seeking. We too must learn to seek this gift. Perhaps if we can learn to recognize it, we will learn to rely on it: to call out to God, presenting our needs persistently until he replies: Great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish! (Mt 15:28)
Si on pouvait voir ce qu’il voit
La fin de semaine dernière, il y a eu des événements dramatiques dans la ville de Charlottesville en Caroline du Nord. Les détails et les images de la voiture qui a frappé des foules dans cette ville ont rapidement été diffusées à travers le continent et les gens ont réagi d’abord avec incrédulité, et ensuite avec divers niveaux de la clarté au fur et à mesure que la réalité de la situation est devenue de plus en plus évidente. Tout au long de la semaine, nous avons également rencontré d’autres histoires concernant des actes terroristes qui ont été éffectués à Barcelone et à Turku (Finlande). Bien que ces évenements attirent notre attention, je ne suis pas tellement convincu que nous sommes aussi attentifs à la présence de Dieu qui agit dans notre vie quotidienne. Cepandant, le monde serait tellement différent si nous devions apprendre à le regarder comme il le fait: avec misericorde au lieu du jugement.
L’évangile d’aujourd’hui nous amène avec Jésus dans la région de Tyr et de Sidon (cf Mt 15,21). De nos jours, ces deux villes se trouvent au Liban, au nord de la frontière entre le Liban et Israël. Jésus se trouvait à l’étranger. Voilà pourquoi il n’a pas répondu lorsque la femme l’a demandé de l’assistance (cf Mt 15:22-23). Au contraire de notre soif inlassable pour des actualités – et elles nous arrivent constamment, même jusqu’au point de nous rendre inattentif à la présence de Dieu – cette femme avait la capacité de reconnaître en Jésus un homme de foi, un homme de coeur, un homme miséricordieux qui pourrait l’aider à guérir sa fille. En fait, c’était sa foi solide et sa persistance qui l’avaient motivée à se prosterner devant Jésus et à implorer sa faveur même lorsque lui et ses disciples avaient essayer de la renvoyer (cf Mt 15,25-27).
Quelles leçons pouvons-nous apprendre de cette femme? Même quand personne ne semblait l’écouter, elle continuait, elle a persisté. Peut-être que nous aussi, nous avons connu des moments où nous pouvions croire que nos prières ne sont accueillies que par le silence de Dieu. Si le silence de Dieu nous porte à croire qu’il ne nous écoute plus, nous deviendrons de plus en plus éloignés de lui. Nous voyons des signes d’une telle distance tout autour de nous – dans l’insistance toujours croissante de tant de personnes qui semblent préférer le sensationnalisme des médias plutôt que l’émerveillement face à la grandeur des oeuvres de Dieu, mais il frappe constamment aux portes de nos coeurs. Il cherche toujours des occasions de nous démontrer la chaleur et la miséricorde qui habitent son coeur.
Le prophète Isaïe était conscient de la sagesse de Dieu. Il savait que Dieu est toujours prêt à accueillir même les étrangers ... qui se sont attachés au Seigneur (Is 56,6). Saint Paul était la preuve vivante de cette vérité. Il était citoyen romain, mais il est venu à croire au pouvoir de Dieu. Comblé par cette croyance, il a encouragé ses camarades à passer de leur désobéissance à l’invitation de Dieu et à ouvrir leurs yeux à la présence miséricordieuse de Dieu (cf Rom 11,32).
C’est le don de la miséricorde de Dieu que la Cananéenne cherchait. Nous devons aussi apprendre a chercher ce don. Si nous pouvons apprendre à le reconnaître, nous apprendrons peut-être à faire confiance: à crier à Dieu et à le prier avec persistence jusqu’au moment où il nous répondra: Grande est ta foi, que tout ce passe pour toi comme tu le veux! (Mt 15,28)
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