Second Sunday in Lent 01 March anno domini 2026 Holy Communion
The Epistle. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 The Gospel. Matthew 15:21-28
Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of
ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly
in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be
defended from all adversities which may happen to the
body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and
hurt the soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing
that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all
those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and
contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and
acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee,
the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
# 311, 368, 562
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
“ Have mercy on me, O Lord...”
Why was this Canaanite woman so persistent?
What would motivate her to be so forward, especially a woman, a Gentile woman, speaking to a Jewish man?
The mores and customs of the time included a very strict protocol pertaining to any communications between men and women. And to take it a step further, two people of two diametrically opposed cultures; that was definitely forbidden by local custom.
What she was doing was unheard of, and yet she persevered with her petition to the Lord. A mother, seeking the best for her child, went to extreme lengths to get something done for her daughter.
It is obvious that Jesus reputation for healing the sick, casting out demons, healing the blind, and crippled had preceded him in this area that was mostly pagan territory. This mother was not going to be sent away, without getting some type of results or answer.
When Jesus initially ignores her and her request. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word.
But his disciples want him to send her away.
And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Obviously Jesus silence was not working, she continued to cry and seek relief for her daughter.
Jesus tells her that he is there for the lost sheep of Israel. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
So what does she do? She does what many in Israel did not do... Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Wow, such a different approach from those who had followed Jesus and still did not believe on him. Here is a Gentile woman, knowing that Jesus must be divine, worshiped him.
And yet as the Lord explains to her what he is doing; But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. She persists. And she said. Truth Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
And we then see what the Lord does for her persistent faith and worship: Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour
Now to repeat the questions that were asked at the beginning of this study.
“Why was this Canaanite woman so persistent?”
1. Do we have that kind of faith? Are we willing to continue in prayer and worship to the Lord, when we don’t seem to get an answer? The Canaanite woman’s persistence was motivated by a mother knowing what was needed for her daughter’s health. She understood that this man she called Lord, could heal her daughter as she perceived his divine power. Jesus answers her...o woman, great is thy faith... Is our faith as great as hers?
“ What would motivate her to be so forward, especially a woman, a Gentile woman, speaking to a Jewish man?”
2. What does it take for us to have the faith that this woman had? She knew that Jesus was just, even when he told her he wasn’t there to help those outside the covenant. And yet she continues by saying even the dogs under the master’s table got something to eat. There are so many aspects of this brief encounter that cover the range of God’s love for his creation. Those created in his image. Jesus foreshadows the universal salvation that will be to all, no matter what tribe they belong to, or what original covenant was bound, God’s love will be revealed to all in that fateful week in Jerusalem not too many weeks later. John 3:16.
The lesson of the Gospel passage points to the mercy of the Lord and the faith of a simple mother seeking the best for her child.
The affliction the demon was doing to the young girl is not spelled out, suffice it to say, the demon possession was enough to cause a mother to find a cure. A mother willing to cross cultural boundaries, to seek what seemed to be impossible, to both petition and offer praise to a foreign deity, and yet after all was recorded, she was successful in her faithful quest.
As we come closer to the great day of Resurrection, the Easter Day, the day of victory over death and hopelessness, let us ever be mindful of what Jesus did on the Cross, in the tomb, and on that first day of the week. Let us reread the second collect for this day:
Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing
that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all
those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and
contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and
acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee,
the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray:
O Most loving Father, who wilest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee, and to cast all our care on thee, who carest for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hid from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which thou hast manifested unto us in thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY God, who hast created man in thine own image; Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil, and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice among men and nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
