Expectant faith

Matthew 15 : 21 - 28

Lord, help me!

A persistent woman receives healing for her daughter. She isn't even a person from the 'house of Israel' or might we say today 'paid up member of a Christian church'. Of course there is the rather mysterious banter with Jesus before he brings about healing. We could hear it as Jesus' way of excluding people from God's blessing, it could even sound insulting, because Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs. But in view of the many ways Jesus had shown his desire to share the good news with all, it might be proper to hear his exchange as an effort to deepen the faith the woman already had. Anyway, she was not put off and she persisted in asking his help. She exercised expectant faith. And he granted her the gift of her daughter's healing.

It is proper to always ask the Lord for what we desire, with expectant faith. He has told us to make known our needs. We understand that he came to bring fullness of life, and healing is one of the gifts that can give us that abundant life. This is a form of prayer that we start off with when faced with situations of need. This is a prayer that our Lord may choose to answer, if it is his will to work in our lives in this way. We pray according to what we think is good for us, trusting that, in the end, he gives what is best.