Comments on: The Canaanite woman – Exactly how to pray. 17th Sunday of Pentecost. Matthew 15:21-28. Text,audio. http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2012/09/29/the-canaanite-woman-exactly-how-to-pray-17th-sunday-of-pentecost-matthew-1521-28-textaudio/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Mon, 20 May 2013 14:49:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Helen http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2012/09/29/the-canaanite-woman-exactly-how-to-pray-17th-sunday-of-pentecost-matthew-1521-28-textaudio/comment-page-1/#comment-30192 Helen Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:40:59 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=4196#comment-30192 Nice icon too! Nice icon too!

]]> By: Helen http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2012/09/29/the-canaanite-woman-exactly-how-to-pray-17th-sunday-of-pentecost-matthew-1521-28-textaudio/comment-page-1/#comment-30191 Helen Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:38:55 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=4196#comment-30191 Father Seraphim, I love this sermon which explains how to pray.  And, Deborah, I love your explanation of all the different possibilities to explain the woman's situation.  Meaning: no matter what, who or why, our prayers must be in this way: Persistent and humble.  I think the humble part must also include some or a lot of thanksgiving to God, for all that He has given me already.   And Persistent.  As a mother, it is good to pray for my children persistently, like Saint Monica, mother of St. Augustine.  Thanks for explaining that, Father Seraphim.  It's not only okay, it's mandatory to be persistent in prayer.   And simple.  I don't have to be eloquent every time I present my prayer.   Fr. Seraphim, may God grant you many years, full of health, strength, wisdom and joy!!! Father Seraphim, I love this sermon which explains how to pray.  And, Deborah, I love your explanation of all the different possibilities to explain the woman's situation.  Meaning: no matter what, who or why, our prayers must be in this way: Persistent and humble.  I think the humble part must also include some or a lot of thanksgiving to God, for all that He has given me already.
 
And Persistent.  As a mother, it is good to pray for my children persistently, like Saint Monica, mother of St. Augustine.  Thanks for explaining that, Father Seraphim.  It's not only okay, it's mandatory to be persistent in prayer.
 
And simple.  I don't have to be eloquent every time I present my prayer.
 
Fr. Seraphim, may God grant you many years, full of health, strength, wisdom and joy!!!

]]> By: Deborah http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2012/09/29/the-canaanite-woman-exactly-how-to-pray-17th-sunday-of-pentecost-matthew-1521-28-textaudio/comment-page-1/#comment-30190 Deborah Sat, 29 Sep 2012 19:50:39 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=4196#comment-30190 I love this story because of the simplicity, persistence and humility this mother had in seeking help for her lost child.  Like the persistent widow with the unjust judge, she wasn't going to stop until she got what she got what she needed.  Bearing insult, rejection and disappointment, she was relentless and unwavering in her dedication to getting healing for her child---and she knew where to go to get it.  The Lord was her only hope.   Where does such love, courage and devotion come from?  Was she born that way? Raised that way?  Did it come from years of personal suffering? Was she persistent because she was used to constant rejection?  What kind of life did this woman lead that might have contributed to her daughter becoming possessed? Or did it have nothing to do with her actions at all?  How did she know that the Lord was the Messiah of Israel?  What made her think she could expect the Lord to help her? I don't know the answer to any of those questions. All I know from the story is that the Lord will help me if I don't give up.  No matter how terrible are my sins, if I don't give up coming to Him for deliverance for myself and my loved ones---and especially if I have powerful intercessors (like this mother pleading for her child ) who won't give up pleading on our behalf ---we will be saved.   I love this story because of the simplicity, persistence and humility this mother had in seeking help for her lost child.  Like the persistent widow with the unjust judge, she wasn't going to stop until she got what she got what she needed.  Bearing insult, rejection and disappointment, she was relentless and unwavering in her dedication to getting healing for her child—and she knew where to go to get it.  The Lord was her only hope.
 
Where does such love, courage and devotion come from?  Was she born that way? Raised that way?  Did it come from years of personal suffering? Was she persistent because she was used to constant rejection?  What kind of life did this woman lead that might have contributed to her daughter becoming possessed? Or did it have nothing to do with her actions at all?  How did she know that the Lord was the Messiah of Israel?  What made her think she could expect the Lord to help her? I don't know the answer to any of those questions.

All I know from the story is that the Lord will help me if I don't give up.  No matter how terrible are my sins, if I don't give up coming to Him for deliverance for myself and my loved ones—and especially if I have powerful intercessors (like this mother pleading for her child ) who won't give up pleading on our behalf —we will be saved.  

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