LENT 2
Matthew 15:21-28
Picture two men trying to cross a frozen river covered in thick ice. One man confidently drives his ¾ ton pickup truck across without any hesitation, trusting that the ice is solid. In contrast, the second man is filled with fear and trembling, lacking confidence in the ice’s stability. He carefully lays flat to distribute his weight and inches his way across on his belly, ultimately reaching the other side. Both men demonstrated faith—one with strong faith and the other with weak faith. However, their success in crossing the river wasn’t determined by the strength of their faith. While one had a much easier journey, both ultimately achieved the same goal of crossing.
Picture the same two men trying to cross a frozen river, but this time the ice is only an inch thick. The first man confidently walks on without a second thought, believing the ice is sturdy, but he and his pickup fall into the icy water and are carried away. Meanwhile, the second man cautiously crawls across, concerned about the ice’s thickness. However, despite his careful approach, the fragile ice breaks, and he is also swept away. Once more, their failure to cross wasn’t due to their belief; it was determined by the ice’s actual thickness.
The key takeaway is that faith is directed toward something specific. You may possess a great deal of faith, but if it’s placed in an incorrect or unworthy object, its strength is irrelevant. Conversely, even a small and fragile faith in a correct and worthy object is valuable, as that object can uphold and validate the faith, regardless of its size. For a long time, the term “believer” has been commonly used, but what does it truly mean? While the Bible includes the term, it requires additional context to clarify what one believes in.
A more recent phrase gaining traction is “a person of faith,” which frustrates me because it implies that faith itself is what matters. Everyone places their faith in something. So, what does it mean to be a “person of faith”? In fact, an atheist can also be considered a person of faith. An atheist holds beliefs that everything came from nothing or that matter is eternal, and they assert, against all observable evidence, that the complexity and beauty of creation arose from randomness. They believe they have enough knowledge to dismiss the existence of a designer or creator, which represents a significant leap of faith rooted in what I consider to be misguided reasoning.
My friends, you have the ability to define your faith. The Creeds serve as great overviews of your beliefs. The intensity or quantity of your faith isn’t as important as the fact that your beliefs are firm, correct, and genuine. When your faith is stronger, your life tends to improve. Remember the analogy of the two men crossing the river: both reach the other side. The one with strong faith crosses more swiftly and effortlessly, while the one who crawls still makes it across. We aim to expand and deepen our faith. Some may interpret Jesus’ call to have the faith of a child (Mk. 10:14-15) as an endorsement of weak faith. However, a child’s faith is not weak.
Consider that an infant is completely dependent and yet believes that crying will prompt their parents to respond to their needs—be it for food, rest, or a change. In fact, infants possess a strong faith in their caregivers, trusting that their concerns will be addressed. Alright. All of this leads us to the story of the Canaanite woman. She is one of just two individuals in the Gospels whose faith is commended by Jesus when he says, “O woman, great is your faith!” (the other being found in Mt. 8:10; Lk. 7:9). Therefore, it is worthwhile to reflect on what aspects of this woman’s faith are significant enough for Jesus to commend it. Let’s take a closer look at the text.
The foundation of strong faith lies in the belief that Jesus is the Savior for everyone. This woman, a Canaanite, comes from a group that was expected to be eradicated due to their worship of demons. Psalm 106 discusses how the Israelites failed to remove the Canaanites, which resulted in the acceptance of their idolatrous rituals. This neglect ultimately led to the horrific act of sacrificing their children to demons (Ps. 106:34-39). It’s reasonable to believe that the severity of this woman’s daughter’s demonic possession might stem from the mother’s actions and her pagan practices. If I’m mistaken, I’ll gladly apologize to her in heaven when we meet. Nevertheless, this woman has faith that Jesus is her Savior and can assist both her and her daughter. Consequently, she turns to Him in prayer, which brings us to the second key element.
The second key aspect of strong faith is its courage and unwavering commitment to prayer. This woman demonstrates remarkable determination. It’s difficult to accept how our Lord responds to her; despite her cries for help, He seems unresponsive. Jesus turns her away and behaves as if He has nothing to offer her. Ultimately, He even insults her by referring to her as a dog. It’s important not to interpret Jesus’ behavior towards her as evidence of intolerance or racism. At the conclusion of the story, He commends her faith, revealing His true feelings about her earlier prayers. He cares deeply for both her and her daughter. However, during their encounter, the woman is uncertain of Jesus’ thoughts on her or her requests. Regardless of how she is treated, she persists in her prayers, consistently seeking help and believing that Jesus will respond with grace and mercy.
Have you ever prayed for something and felt like God wasn’t listening or that things were getting worse? That’s not the moment to give up on prayer. True faith remains strong and unwavering, even when it seems like God is indifferent. Remember, He cares for you and loves you deeply. The third and final component of strong faith is the understanding that even God’s smallest gifts are more than sufficient. For the woman, getting rid of the demon was a monumental task, something beyond her capabilities. However, her faith in Jesus and His power is so profound that she believes it would be a minor feat for Him to remove that demon from her daughter. She sees this challenge as merely a crumb for Jesus to handle, given that the demon has caused her immense suffering and turmoil. To her, it’s no significant challenge for Jesus. Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus can easily remove all your sins, as He has already done the hard work. Now, forgiving you, blessing you, and offering you eternal life is a straightforward task for Him. He provides more than just scraps; He offers Himself to heal your soul and bring you into everlasting life with Him.
Deacon Dan Farley