20th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Are we Real?  Mt. 15:21-28

Most people do not like being “Played”

Or taken advantage of. 

It is no different with God!

God may be Love,

But we cannot take advantage of that Love. 

The Woman in the Gospel was not Jewish.

So she did not believe in the One True God. 

Being a Canaanite, she probably worshipped Baal

Or some other pagan god. 

So when she came to Jesus asking for her daughter to be healed. 

Jesus had to wonder if He was being “Played”

If she was going to take advantage of His healing power

And then walk away never to be heard from again. 

So He tested her sincerity. 

And told her that it is not right to take the food of the children 

and throw it to the dogs!

Jesus did not “Play” around!

He cut to the chase. 

And she responded not with anger;

Nor did she walk away in a huff;

But said humbly,

“Even the dogs eat the scraps from the Master’s table.”

And then Jesus knew she was for real. 

Her love for her daughter was real. 

Her Faith in Jesus was real

And that she was not just going to use Him and then never be heard from again. 

If God ever seems to hesitate to answer our prayers,

Maybe He is just waiting to see if we are “playing”Him

And taking advantage of Him. 

And once we get what we want,

Walk away and not darken the doors of the Church

Or pray until the next time we need something. 

God is no Fool!

He sees into the depths of our hearts;

And reads our true intentions. 

And He knows when we are “Playing” Him

And when we are Real!