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Reflection from our Pastors
Saturday, August 19, 2026
Canaanite Woman answers:
Who Do You Say That I Am?
A couple of weeks ago, you may have read a pastoral reflection that talked about the question Jesus asked his disciples “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you think that I am? (Matt 16:13-16. Aug. 29, 2026).
What if the answer isn’t words but action. What if the answer isn’t spoken but acted out such as the action the Canaanite woman whose daughter is possessed by a demon takes. (Matt 15: 21-28). This woman seems to know so clearly who Jesus is by the way she persists in making a case for Jesus to heal her daughter.
Her persistence opens a new world of people needing saving by Jesus who thinks his mission to only for his own house of Israel, ‘I have only come to save the lost sheep of Israel (Matt 15: 24). This woman’s actions and persistence speak the God’s message to Jesus, changing his mission to include even a Canaanite woman, to see beyond the surface into the truth of hearts to be more inclusive. Who is this woman who is so influential as to change the mission of Jesus?
This woman is smart. She recognizes Jesus as different from the other healers. She knows the lineage and religion of Jesus as she calls him Son of David, and uses the line “Have mercy on me” as in Psalm 109 v26.
This woman has dogged determination, a tiger mother, who pleads for mercy for herself and doesn’t give up because it is her child and more than that, her daughter. Two females each a reflection of the other, an intense relationship that the woman won’t let Jesus ignore. Jesus tries to ignore her; his disciples try to get her to be quiet, but she won’t stop even as Jesus keeps walking away from her, even when he is mean, calling her a dog.
This woman is wily and understands the power of positive response, not returning insult for insult she speaks to the distinction between the understanding of dogs by the Israelites versus the Canaanites. Jesus calls her a dog as the Israelites see them, a terrible insult and he throws her dog under the bus. In this exchange we can hear the culturally accepted suspicion and lack of respect that the two cultures have for each other. And who bridges this cultural divide? the woman who dares to answer back. She kneels at the feet of Jesus, recognizing – the Holy One and blocking his way. She answers back in such a way that Jesus can’t deny her faith. He heals her daughter. He recognizes her finally and admires her faith and realizes his mission is The WAY for all people to grow into their salvation, which Matt tells us happens after the death of Jesus. (Matt 28:19).
Who do you say that I am? The Canaanite woman is an example of the experience of God. She knows who he is because the experience of Jesus in her heart is congruent with the knowledge in her head. She truly knows who Jesus even before he heals her daughter, because is she is made whole in the asking.
Imagine what her spiritual life is going forward? Who of us can answer Jesus’ question, “Who Do You Say That I AM”?
May we live in the present moment knowing in our hearts that the gift of grace gives us the opportunity to more deeply know God at any moment.
In this moment of grace,
Pastor Jane
P.S. Jesus asks us as Mary of Magdala, ‘Who do you say I am?’
Jesus takes off his costume
Jesus comes in from the lights,
takes off his crown.
(You realize there was no halo:
it was the backlighting.)
Undoes all the pins and badges and medals:
Son of God; Messiah; Lord and Savior;
Died for Our Sins I, II, III, and IV
(the committee accepts several atonement theories);
Walks on Water; Miracles One through Twelve;
14-0 against the Pharisees; Best Wine;
1st in Fishing Derby; Best Comeback;
Absolute Ruler of Name Recognition... all of them.
He takes off his gleaming white robe,
chucks the holy sandals—they hurt, after all.
Put on sweats and a t-shirt.
Pops a beer. Looks at the books on the shelf:
theology and doctrine. Smiles, shakes his head.
Sits on the couch. Slouches a little.
Scrolls through pictures on this phone
of the two of you. Closes his eyes.
A moment.
Then
he looks at you
kind of like he looks at Mary Magdalene,
pauses, eye to eye, and says,
“Who do you say I am?”
www. Unfoldinglight.net
August 17, 2026
Image by beasternchen from Pixabay
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