Between the Listening and the Telling
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
-Matthew 15:21-28
Listening is a gift we give each other. Many times we are busy thinking about how we can contribute to the conversation rather than really focusing on the words of the other person. Other times we are concerned about forming a convincing argument and don’t really listen to what the person is truly saying. In the conversation Jesus had with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15, Jesus listened to the words of the woman, but also beyond the words into her heart. She was desperate to find healing for her daughter. She was willing to take the insult of Jesus calling her a “dog”, and playfully responded back.
Something powerful occurred between the listening and the telling. Jesus listened to her need, and then gave her the answer she had hoped for. In our encounters with one another, we may not have the ability to provide the same type of miraculous healing the Canaanite daughter received. But there is another type of healing that occurs. When we truly listen and are invited into re-living someone’s joy or pain through hearing their story, healing happens. Joy is shared. Hurts are healed. Life is restored.
This fall, we will practice sharing our stories of faith. Occasionally we will hear from the Elders and Deacons in worship. We might even practice sharing a “God sighting” with our neighbors in church. God has given you a wonderful story to tell! Please join us in worship this fall as we share our own inspiring stories of faith.
Lord, you call, but we do not always recognize your voice. Sometimes we don’t listen carefully. Sometimes we’re caught off guard. Lord, you call, but we haven’t always taught others to hear you. Sometimes we stand in the way, allowing our voice to ring out over yours. Lord, you call, but we don’t always believe our ears. Sometimes we believe we know better. Sometimes we think you can’t possibly be calling us,or her, or him. Forgive us, Lord, our unpracticed listening, our closed ears. Help us to hear. Amen.
