There is a controversial story in the Gospels about Jesus’ encounter with a Syrophoencian woman. Jesus is in a gentile region, and a gentile woman calls out to Him, asking Him to expel a demon from her daughter. At first Jesus is silent, but she is persistent. This causes the disciples of Jesus to urge Him to send her away, but Jesus engages her. He tells her that He has only come to call the Israelites in the region. She persists and again asks for His help. Jesus then speaks to her in a metaphor, “It is not right to take the food of children and throw it to the dogs.” In doing so, Jesus is not insulting this woman. Rather, he is speaking to her the way a Rabbi would to his student – speaking in a parable to see if she could answer in understanding. The woman with great humility and faith responds, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Jesus praises her faith and heals her daughter.
If we critically examine the story, despite the words that may seem offensive to the modern ear, Jesus actually engages this woman with great respect. He talks to her in the same way that He would speak to a scholar of the Law. In return, she shows her wisdom in her understanding.
But there is something else that we learn from this interaction that can be somewhat hidden if we have a lack of understanding of the spiritual life. Jesus is God’s love revealed to us, and the Father wants us to accept His Son into our lives by our own free will. Because of our sinful nature, we have to be prepared to receive this love. Without this preparation, we will run from God’s Love. This is because the love of God will change us if we let it, and it can be a painful process.
Yet, if we examine the interaction closely: The woman is asking for a miracle for her daughter. She then reasons with Jesus, telling Him that scraps of the table are given away to those who are not worthy. She is calling a miracle a scrap. Because of her faith, Jesus gives her this scrap. Jesus seems to affirm that a miracle is indeed a scrap compared to what He has come to give the Jews and then to the whole world – eternal life.
This is a foreign notion for us. We love signs and miracles. They make us wonder, they astound us, and they can bolster our faith. If/when we receive one, we think of ourselves as loved by God, or even special. This is all true. But how effective are miracles for facilitating in us the faith that gives eternal life? Well if the ancient Israelites are an example, not very effective. God saves them from the Egyptians by the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea. Soon after, they complained about the lack of food. God gave them Quail and Manna (bread from heaven), and soon after they complained about water. God gave them water from the rock, and soon after they turned to other gods. These events happen in the period of a couple months. Yet, this lack of faith, even after miracles, occurs consistently throughout Israel’s history until the time of Jesus.
The same often happens in our own lives. We ask God for something great, promising to change our life if He provides it. He does it when it is good for us. He helps us at school/work. He provides more income in times of need. He gives a sign that helps us to discern His will, etc. We then cling to Him in thanks for a day, maybe a week, but then we return to our own self indulgent ways. The miracle, while a beautiful sign of love and divine fatherhood, often is not the thing that allows for God to take root in our lives.
Real faith and love is formed in small moments of consistency. Constant presence is what changes a person. This is why psychology tells us that we are the sum total of the 5 persons that we spend the most time with. Knowing this wisdom, God chooses to give us the Eucharist so that He can be constantly with us. God knows that love takes root through consistent presence, so He hides Himself in bread and wine so that we can approach and consume Him.
Through this lens, we see that a miracle truly is just a scrap of the Kingdom of God, and Jesus gives it to the woman as a reward for her faith and a sign of His love. The hope is that the scrap whets the woman’s appetite so that she prepares to engage in the full course of embracing the Commandments, living the Beatitudes, and loving her enemies. We do not know if this happens, but we do know that she has faith and that’s the beginning of a life in Jesus.
So when it comes to asking for good things from our heavenly Father, let us ask for the things that will truly give us eternal life. These small consistent ways of presence with our Father can be receiving a sacrament, doing good work, time spent in prayer, or reading the scriptures. They are what bring us from death to life. We cease our selfishness, and we become more like God’s love that we are being consistently exposed to. And if God wants to give us a miracle, so be it! But let us not put our faith in signs and wonders, because He does not want to give us the scraps, He wants us to give us the full banquet.
