Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BIBLICAL IMAGERY

(Fr Michael Boakye Yeboah: Vice Rector of St Gregory Seminary, Kumasi-Ghana)

MOTHERHOOD

            Motherhood can simply be defined as the state of being a mother or the qualities of a mother. Throughout history, motherhood has been described as the woman’s basic mission, profession, and an inseparable part of her nature. Women are supposedly drawn into motherhood by their inner instincts which at the same time guarantee their children’s healthy growth and development. This natural ability makes the woman the best possible educator and guide. Some women can hide the natural abilities of their motherhood while others wear them on their sleeves but when it comes to the safety and well-being of their kids they all possess the maternal protective instincts God gave to every female creature he created. Matthew in today’s Gospel account gives us a perfect example of motherhood - the Canaanite woman.

            This is another Sunday which offers us the opportunity to salute and congratulate the gift of our mothers – they are so sweet and lovely. Matthew tells us a story about a woman who went against all odds to get the needed help for her child. In Africa we find such women every day on our streets, hospitals, farms and other places of human engagement. Some women are subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatments just to get money to feed their children or to seek medical or educational help for them. The woman in today’s Gospel was referred to as a “dog” but that did not discourage her from seeking the needed help from Jesus. Some women in Africa and other parts of the world are treated harshly on a daily basis, and yet they do not give up.

            The Gospel about the Canaanite woman sounds unusually harsh. It was not only Jesus who was harsh to the woman but also his disciples. Naturally women are meant to be treated with tenderness and kindness but that is not what the woman got. This is a woman who had a daughter who was seriously ill. She must have heard somehow of the wonderful things which Jesus could do; and she followed him and his disciples, crying desperately for help. At first, Jesus seemed to pay no attention to her. The disciples were embarrassed. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said, ‘and be rid of her.’ The reaction of the disciples was not really compassion at all; it was the reverse – to them the woman was a nuisance, and all they wanted was to be rid of her as quickly as possible. To grant a request to be rid of a person who is, or may become, a nuisance is a common enough reaction; but it is very different from the response of Christian love, pity, and compassion.

            At first Jesus appears not to want to acknowledge that he hears her imploring request; then he says that his mission has to do only with Israel. His third statement underlines the second: the bread he offers belongs to the children, not to the dogs. Now comes the marvelous phrase from the woman: “You are right, Lord” (she sees his point and concedes it), but the dogs at least receive the crumbs that falls from the family’s table. This the Lord cannot resist anymore.

            There are certain things about this woman which we must note and if possible emulate. First and foremost, she had love. She made the misery of her child her own. Pagan she might be, but in her heart, there was that love for her child which is always the reflection of God’s love for his children. It was love which made her approach this stranger; it was love which made her accept his silence and yet still appeal; it was love which made her suffer the apparent rebuffs; it was love which made her able to see the compassion beyond and behind the words of Jesus. The driving force of this woman’s heart was love; and there is nothing stronger and nothing nearer God than that very thing.

            Secondly, the woman had faith. It was a faith which grew in contact with Jesus. She began by calling him Son of David; that was a popular title, a political title. It was a title which looked on Jesus as a great and powerful wonder-worker, but which looked on him in terms of earthly power and glory. She came asking a favour of one whom she took to be a great and powerful man. She came with a kind of superstition as she might have come to any magician. She ended by calling Jesus, “Lord.” Jesus was so impressed with this woman’s faith that he said: “O woman, great is your faith!”

            Thirdly, this woman had indomitable persistence. She was indiscouragable. So many people, it has been said, pray really because they do not wish to miss a chance. They do not really believe in prayer; they have only the feeling that something might just possibly happen. This woman came because Jesus was not just a possible helper; he was her only hope. She came with a passionate hope, a burning sense of need and a refusal to be discouraged. She had the one supremely effective quality in prayer – she was in deadly earnest. Prayer for her was no ritual form; it was the outpouring of the passionate desire of her soul, which somehow felt that she could not – and must not – and need not – take no for an answer.

            Lastly, this woman had the gift of cheerfulness. She was in the midst of trouble; she was passionately in earnest; and yet she could smile. She had a certain sunny-heartedness about her. God loves the cheerful faith, the faith in whose eyes there is always the light of hope, the faith with a smile which can light the gloom. This woman brought to Christ a gallant and an audacious love, a faith which grew until it worshipped at the feet of the divine, an indomitable persistence springing from an unconquerable hope, a cheerfulness which would not be dismayed.

            So many mothers are playing their roles well and we thank them for their sacrifices. We thank God for the gift of our Mother Mary, her intercessions keep us always hopeful. Mother Mary please accept our thanks.