A Needed Crumb – Reflection on Matthew 15:21-28 ~
Have you been interrupted by someone that needs help, especially when you are tired? Maybe it was time for your lunch or dinner, and you were hungry and thirsty. Yet, deep inside, you knew you had to put aside your own needs because someone needed raising up. Their healing with a morsel of spiritual food was perhaps just a portion of what you had. Like Jesus, when you give a needed crumb, grace embraces the “other.” Knowing my mistakes, I will caution you as, unlike Jesus with unlimited resources, we must be careful to rest in the in-between times. We need sustenance in the form of food and bodily rest so grace can fill us and remove our weariness. If we do not, we put the years in front of us to be able to provide more crumbs in jeopardy.
The Canaanites Daughter by James Tissot (full resolution painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 15:21-28 – Scripture*
The Canaanite Woman’s Faith
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 15:21-28 Reflection – Give a Needed Crumb.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the Matthew 15 Bible passage.
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