06.+Elizabeth-+The+canaanite+woman+reflection

THE CANAANITE WOMAN // Jesus and dialogue in the Gospels. Matthew 15:21-28 The Canaanite woman’s faith. //  In the gospel story, Jesus went to the district place of Tyre and Sidon, because the Jewish people were rejecting him so he went there because there went many Jews. A Canaanite woman then approached him, and shouted at him, telling Jesus about her daughter who was tormented by a demon. Jesus’ disciples told Jesus to ask the woman to leave, but he ignored the woman and replied to his disciples saying that he was only there to the lost sheep of Israel. The woman then knelt before Jesus asking for his help, but Jesus replied in such a way to test her faith. But the woman would not allow Jesus to test her, and replied in such a humble way, saying that even dogs get the scraps off the floor, referring herself as a dog. Jesus then realised that the woman did believe in her faith and that her faith was great, healing her daughter as a reward for believing. This is an example of Jesus in dialogue with another, because he is testing and talking to the woman, reasoning with her, testing her of her faith. The story of the Canaanite woman demonstrates humanity, prayer and faith because Jesus saw her as a person, deciding to help her, and prayer shows her faith because without her believing in Jesus and in something, you can’t have faith, but the woman had complete and utter faith in Jesus. The movement towards peace and goodwill is when the woman shows her complete and utter faith in Jesus, asking him to heal her daughter, and Him doing so. Jesus is changed in this story, because he thought/believed that only he only went to Tyre to help the Jews, but then realised that the Canaanite woman’s faith was great, and healed her daughter. The result for each character in the story was different for each. Jesus learnt to help others, not only Jews. The woman’s result was that her faith was rewarded and the result for the disciples was that Jesus not only helps Jews and that all different faiths are good.