Greater Need, Greater Faith!

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Jer 31: 1-7; Mt 15: 21-28

Today’s Gospel highlights the Canaanite woman’s great faith. 

The text calls for a reading from the point of view of the woman, who was the mother of a girl tormented by a demon day and night. Hence, we discover that nothing can stop a mother who has a greater need. In her desperation to seek a cure from Jesus, she had no time to think about the claims of her unworthiness in an abstract philosophical sense. We only find a mother who will go to any extent to get her daughter healed by Jesus. 

The woman’s faith is amazing for many reasons. The Canaanite woman was not only a mother with a greater need, but she also knew who would be able to heal her daughter. This is why, maybe learning from others, she addresses Jesus twice with his divine identity. It was not that she came with no knowledge of Jesus. She knew Jesus to be the divine healer, and therefore, she wanted him to heal her daughter by appealing to him repeatedly. 

And what is more, the persistent mother was not cowed down by initial disappointments in her journey. Before Jesus could say anything, he appeared to ignore her through his silence. The text reads, ‘He did not say a word in answer to her.’ However, in the face of Jesus’ silence, she surprises the Lord with her profound faith. Not giving up, she kneels before the Lord and does him homage before winning his compassion through her faith.

The great faith of the Canaanite woman leaves behind an inspiring lesson for us. Genuine faith relies on God’s grace and not on our worthiness. Hence, the fact or assumptions of our unworthiness cannot stop us from approaching the Lord in our desperate need. The woman teaches that having great faith means turning to the One who can make us worthy to stand before Him.

Just a few days ago, we found Jesus disappointed with the ‘little faith’ of his disciples. When he was surrounded by a raging storm, even Peter took his eyes off the Lord. But here is a woman who stays focused even when tossed up and down by life’s storm. Her faith knelt before the Lord in total and complete surrender. It is that strong faith that makes the winning claim finally. 

Let us pray that we may grow into people of great faith who need the Lord the most.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar