Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us

Nm 13,1-2.25-14,1.26-30.34-35; Ps 105; Mt 15,21-28
7 AUGUST

In the New Testament not only requests for graces, often also the reasons for which grace is to be done, are found. They are reasons that find their foundation in charity and love. If a man loves the Jewish people, can he be denied a grace? If a woman has done much good, can she be left in death? One answers with love to love and with charity to charity. No one might ever resist mercy.

When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us” (Lk 7,1-5).

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid (her) out in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive (At 9,36-41).

A woman asks for a grace to Jesus. But he does not listen to her. He does not even say a word to her. She keeps shouting. The disciples approach Jesus and beg him to grant her. But what is the reason for his granting? “Because she comes after us shouting”! It is not a motivation of charity, mercy, piety and compassion. Instead, it is a desire for peace and silence for themselves. For no disturb, noise and shouting. It is a motivation of selfishness and not of charity. If they want to give motivations to God, they must spring from great charity either for the Lord or for the man who asks for grace. Abraham asks God to spare Sodom. For what reason? So that He is not seen by the world as an unjust judge, striking righteous and iniquitous people. Thus Moses asks for forgiveness so that the Lord may be believed to be the true God almighty on everything and not in part. If the people had not come to the Promised Land, his name would have suffered a serious damaged. The woman snatches grace from Christ that denies it to her. With what motivation? With one of right. She has been compared by Jesus to a little dog. Well, dogs have a right to eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. By doing the miracle Jesus would not have transgressed any commandment of the Father. He would have lived the law that is lived in every house of this world and consequently also in the house of God. A wise woman like Abraham and like Moses.

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

He who prays must pray with his heart, mind and hands. The heart filled with the love of the Father, the mind overflowing with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the hands rich in the same mercy of Lord Jesus. Ours must be a Trinitarian prayer.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that heart, mind and hands are full of our God.