Once More O'Lord I ask your forgiveness

Once More O’ Lord I ask your forgiveness

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is tormented by a demon.”  But he did not say a word in answer to her.  His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”  He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord help me.”  He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”  She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters."  Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”  And her daughter was healed from that hour.  (Mt 15: 21 - 28).  

This is perhaps one of the most intriguing signs of an encounter with Jesus when the least of his children has enough faith to seek out the mercy that is granted to all of us by a simple act of faith.  

The essence of Christ’s forbearance towards all sinners, which is everyone born into a world of sinfulness, leaves no one unheard from their need of mercy.  How fortunate are we who live with the knowledge of complete exoneration from eternal death that our Lord became the ransom, paid in full, on Good Friday.  How sad to see the many who have not heard of his Crucifixion that forgave all sinners, if they accept what his suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead meant for them; sinners and saints who don’t understand what the Paschal Mystery is all about. 

For many, the narrative of the Canaanite woman looking for mercy upon her daughter is the same assurance of faith that each of us must have as we enter the Easter Triduum of Holy Week.  

No matter how many alms given or supplications we have uttered it is the depth of our humbleness before the Lord, Christ, that shows we had no other path for eternal forgiveness than the begging for the graces that opened the gate of Paradise;  “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  (Lk 23: 43). 

Ralph B. Hathaway