Book of Common Prayer

¹² My brothers, I beg you, be like me because I am like you. You did me no wrong.

¹³ You know that I was sick when I first told you the good news.

¹⁴ My sickness troubled you. But you did not think wrongly of me or turn away from me. You received me as if I were an angel from God, as if I were Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Why are you not happy any more? I saw myself that you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if you could do such a thing.

¹⁶ Do you hate me because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷ Other people are trying hard to get you on their side. But they do not mean to help you. They want to get you away from Christ so that you will listen to them.

¹⁸ Of course, it is good if someone tries to help you, but only if it is for a good reason. It is always good, not only when I am with you.

¹⁹ My dear children, I feel pain for you again, like a mother when her child is being born. I will feel pain until Christ lives in your heart.

²⁰ I wish I could be with you now, and not have to talk this way. But I am troubled about you.

²¹ Jesus left that place and went to the country of Tyre and Sidon. 22A woman of the people of Canaan was in that country. She called out, `Sir, you are the Son of David. Help me! My daughter is being troubled very much by a bad spirit.'

²² Jesus did not answer her. His disciples came to him and said, `Send her away. She keeps calling after us.'

²³ He said, `I was sent only to the people of Israel. They are like lost sheep.'

²⁴ But the woman came and bowed down in front of Jesus and worshipped him. She said, `Sir, help me.'

²⁵ He said, `It is not right to take the children's food and give it to the little dogs.'

²⁶ She answered, `Yes, sir. But even the little dogs eat the food that falls from the tables of their masters.'

²⁷ Then Jesus answered, `Woman, you believe very much. The thing you want me to do will be done.' And her daughter was healed at that very time.

²⁸ Jesus went on from there along the Sea of Galilee. He went up on a hill and sat down there.