Persistence

If you like kung fu movies, you know the story well.  A young man decides that he wants to dedicate his life to the study, practice, and art of a certain spiritual and physical way of life.  The young man climbs a great mountain, enters the sanctuary, bows to the old sage, and asks to enter the community.

Invariably, the young man is either rebuked or admitted but given such menial and banal tasks that it tests his patience.  But until the Master understands the commitment of the young man, he does not give him the opportunity to learn and develop.  The young man doesn't take this as an insult, but merely a test of one's character, mettle, and desire.  

Once he has proved himself, the young man can begin his studies, practice, and new way of life.  Today we see this very archetype at work in the Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28), when Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman, asking for her daughter to be healed.

The image that many of us hold of Jesus would anticipate that Jesus would graciously and generously oblige this poor woman, heal her daughter, and be on his way with a kind and encouraging word.

Instead, Jesus ignores and insults the poor woman before relenting to her plea.  I'm not one for exploring the psychology of Jesus in such scenes, but I am a little taken aback by how harsh Jesus is with this woman.  What on earth would make Jesus ignore someone in need coming to Him for help?

I think it is something like the phenomenon we see in those kung fu movies.  Because of his public ministry, great deeds and healings, word of Jesus from Nazareth had already spread far and wide.  The Gospels note that at first, Jesus spoke mainly to his disciples; after three years of teaching, healing, and performing miracles, Jesus spoke also to large crowds who pushed closer to see him, hear him, and even touch his clothing -- all in hopes of being healed themselves.

This had to get tiring for Jesus.  He wasn't a freak show or circus act.  And while throngs of people came to him for a quick fix, Jesus wasn't entirely interested in the short-term.  Instead, he explains clearly in this passage:

"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  

Canaanites were one of many tribes of Gentiles, who although lived in close proximity with the Israelites, were not considered a "clean" people because of their lack of ritual laws, food restrictions, and because they didn't worship Yahweh as their God above all other gods.  But even this Jewish rabbi attracted Gentiles to hear His truth, heed His teachings, and be healed by His touch or command.  Before long, it became quite difficult for Jesus to avoid big crowds and likely, countless requests for healing.

This Gospel provides two lessons for us:

First and foremost, we need to be persistent in our faith.  The Canaanite woman does not leave when the disciples send her away.  She does not relent when Jesus insults her, saying "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."  Instead, she is persistent, like the young man who is committed to learn kung fu, shows her character, mettle, and desire.  As an outsider, the Canaanite woman is showing her willingness to be converted to this new and different way of life.

What does this mean for us?  That we cannot turn to Jesus for a "quick fix."  We can't rely on Him to get us through our hour of need but then forget about Him when all is well.  We can't risk watering down our faith (and desire to grow closer to Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life) into superstition.  

From the outside looking in, Christianity can appear to be like a superstition.  Baseball players cross themselves before going to bat, athletes pray before games or matches, thank Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when they win (but what about when they lose?) -- and I think we all know a few people who have a quick phrase for pleading to St. Anthony when they can't find their keys or wallet or are quick to bury a statue of St. Joseph when they're looking to sell their house.

Christianity isn't superstition.  And turning our lives over to Jesus for His truth, His love, and His healing power in our lives isn't about a quick fix.  It's about persistence and constant conversion.  Or as a good friend of mine, Fr. Wally once told me, it's about "praying tough."  God knows what's in our heart.  And we shouldn't be afraid of being honest with God about what we want, need, or fear.  But that also means we should be ready to be persistent in order to be invested in the outcome as God is.

Perhaps this is better saved for another post, but it's worth mentioning; I think there is at least one more lesson at work here: as we become disciples and, in turn, offer to teach and heal on our own, we will need to draw boundaries.  We cannot be everything to everyone.  Even Jesus had limits and had to say "no" to people.  It's something that we need to learn to balance in our own lives and, what is more, help those around us better realize that what we have to offer doesn't involve quick fixes, the "right" words or actions or other matters of superstition, but ongoing conversion.

That's what the kung fu master looks for.  It's what Jesus saw in the Canaanite woman.  

And persistence and constant conversion is what Jesus looks for in us.