8 April 2027 · Syro-Malabar Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Latin Rite · Syro-Malankara Rite · മലയാളം
“Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” Matthew 15:28
Paul writes to the Philippians from prison, not knowing whether he will live or die. He does not ask them to get him released. He asks for something harder: “Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” The Greek word Paul uses means to live as a citizen; Philippi was a Roman colony, proud of its citizenship, and Paul tells them that they belong to a greater city, and must live by its laws. A Christian's daily conduct is the visible face of the Gospel. Paul hopes to hear “that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents.” Then he says something no one could invent: “For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well.” Suffering for Christ is called a gift of grace, a privilege, like faith itself. The apostles in Jerusalem had understood this when, after being flogged, “they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name” (Acts 5:41). Easter does not remove the Cross from the Christian life; it changes its meaning. Those who suffer with the Risen Lord share his victory.
In the Gospel Jesus goes north into the district of Tyre and Sidon, outside the land of Israel. A woman comes out to meet him, and Matthew calls her a Canaanite, using the oldest name for the peoples who lived in the land before Israel: she is as much an outsider as anyone could be. Yet her first words are a confession of faith: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” What follows is one of the hardest scenes in the Gospels. “But he did not answer her at all.” The disciples want her sent away. Jesus says he was sent “only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She will not go. “But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’” Three words, one of the shortest prayers in the Bible and perhaps the most prayed. Jesus answers with a proverb that sounds harsh: “It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” And she, with a mother's courage and quick wit, turns his own words into her plea: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”
“Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” Only twice in Matthew's Gospel does Jesus single out someone's faith for such praise, and both times the person is a Gentile: the centurion at Capernaum and this Canaanite mother. The silence and the hard words were not rejection; they drew out of her a faith that grew stronger with every refusal. The Fathers saw in her the whole Gentile world, waiting at the edge of Israel's table for the bread of life, and receiving not crumbs but the whole loaf. After the Resurrection the Lord will send his apostles to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19); the Gospel came to India with Saint Thomas, and the Church of the Saint Thomas Christians is one of the fruits of that mission. Every Holy Qurbana is that table: the children's bread is now given to all who come in faith. And every mother who has prayed for years for a sick or wandering child can stand beside this woman. God's silence is not his absence. Keep kneeling; keep saying, Lord, help me.
Theme: “Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’”
A life worthy of the Gospel, the privilege of suffering for Christ, one of the shortest prayers in the Bible, and the children's bread for all nations.
“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,” Philippians 1:27
Apply: Change one habit at work or online that does not match the Gospel.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2
“For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well” Philippians 1:29
Apply: Offer one pain this week, united to Christ's Cross, for someone in need.
“Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” Psalm 86:1
“But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”” Matthew 15:25
Apply: Pray ‘Lord, help me’ every time anxiety rises this week.
“Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16
“Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” Matthew 15:28
Apply: Keep praying daily for one person you have almost given up on.
The Risen Lord turns suffering into grace and silence into deeper faith.
His table is open to every nation; let us come to it with humble, persevering faith.
Take-home resolution: This week, change one habit unworthy of the Gospel, offer one suffering, and pray ‘Lord, help me’ without giving up.
Dear friends, Paul writes from prison, not knowing if he will live. He does not ask the Philippians to get him out. He asks: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Our daily behaviour is the visible face of the Gospel. And Paul says something surprising: God has granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him. After Easter the Cross remains, but it has a new meaning. Those who suffer with the Risen Lord share his victory.
In the Gospel a Canaanite woman, a complete outsider, cries out: Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon. Jesus does not answer. The disciples want her sent away.
But she kneels and says: Lord, help me. When Jesus speaks of the children's bread, she answers: Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table. She will not give up.
Jesus says: Woman, great is your faith! And her daughter is healed. His silence drew out a greater faith. And now, at the Holy Qurbana, the children's bread is given to all who come in faith, from every nation.
If you have been praying a long time for a child or for someone you love, stand beside this mother. God's silence is not his absence. Keep kneeling. Keep saying: Lord, help me. Alleluia! Amen.
Children, a mother came to Jesus because her little girl was sick. Jesus did not answer at first, but she kept asking: ‘Lord, help me!’ And Jesus healed her daughter.
When you pray and nothing seems to happen, don't stop! Keep saying: ‘Jesus, help me.’ He always hears you.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, risen Saviour of all nations, you heard the cry of the Canaanite mother and praised her great faith. Have mercy on us, and help us. Give us her humility and her perseverance, so that we do not give up when you seem silent. Make us live in a manner worthy of your Gospel, standing firm together and unafraid, and count it a grace to suffer for your name. Feed us at your table with the bread of your children, and send us to all who wait for it. Glory to you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen. Alleluia!