cindy's+reflection

JESUS AND DIALOGUE IN THE GOSPELS The Canaanite Woman’s Faith Mathew 15:21-28 While Jesus was travelling on the district of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman started shouting “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” Jesus replied to her plea saying he could only assist the Jewish people from Israel; however, the persistent woman came and knelt before him, pleading for his help. Jesus answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She answered, “Yes, lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table.” Seeing, that how greatly she believes and respect him, Jesus healed her daughter immediately. This passage of the Canaanite woman’s faith is an example of Jesus in dialogue with another because he is communicating with a gentile, someone outside his Jewish teachings and therefore heals the Canaanites woman’s daughter due to her strong faith in him. **Humanity: ** Jesus wants to be seen as someone normal; he believes everyone should be treated equally despite their differences **Prayer: ** The Canaanite uses terms that make it seem like she's praying to Jesus. Some of the phrases include:"Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David" "Lord, help me." **Faith: ** The Canaanite woman’s faith was supreme; therefore Jesus had helped heal her daughter.

Throughout the passage, the road towards peace and goodwill is portrayed, when it is a result of the Canaanite woman influential, nevertheless great faith in Jesus, he decides to assist her. Although she is different and a gentile, he helped her, albeit of that time, he would only help the people of Israel. Towards the end of the gospel, there is movement towards peace and goodwill. The disciples and Jesus himself change his opinion and beliefs on what is happening. Their ideas and opinion changed by having no faith in the Canaanite woman to having faith in her as they realise she was no different from them. In the story, Jesus heals the Canaanite woman's daughter, the woman received the help she wanted and the disciples altered their ideas about the Canaanite. This is meant that they had common understanding and knowledge of one another.

Sherene Hassan, the vice-president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, whom is heavily involved in interfaith dialogue. and is one of the media spokespeople for the Islamic Council of Victoria, has opened and cleared my visions and opinions about Islamic belief and Muslim women. On our Temple excursion day, after visiting the many temples of the diverse cultures, it was concluded with a visit from Sherene Hassan, she has both enlightened my knowledge and cleared my opinions of Islamic beliefs and their people. Sherene's recount of her experiences and the Journey that she had endured through both the 9/11 and the 'Banning of The Burqa' issue, altered the way i thought of the Muslims that were constantly targeted in the media as a consequence of one person's, from the Islamic religion, appaling actions. Sherene's explanation of how her loyalty towards her religion, which has lead to her broad knowledge and pathways of other relgious beliefs and thier community, without making rash assumptions, has taught me that looks aren't everything! Everyone is different and unique in their own structure, no one is perfect, in every person there's at least a numerous amount of imperfectness. Although one person from the same religion and belief, has caused destruction and has disturbed the worlds peace, it is them who thought of these ideas, it is them who caused such rashness, it is them that did not think through what their actions might effect on the people who are under the same relgion as them. It is ones idea and opinion that brought about such desturction and disturbance, that has caused both the media and society to go against, the very religion that the culprit reigns under. Therefore, causing the innocence to suffer their consequences everywhere they go, even youth as well, causing the society, through protection, to destroy the innocence's long passsed down beliefs. On that account, i realise how deep and meaningful Sherene Hassan message was, it has taught a great lesson about having rash assumptions of others, we must always forgive and forget. “ [|When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.] ” Catherine Ponder quotes

SELF EVALUATION! <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Throughout the unit my frustrations was getting the team to contribute, discuss and research on the set religion (these were my main frustrations). However, my dissatisfaction throughout the unit includes: providing summarized information to suit the type of structure I was aiming for, triumphing the wiki to get it up and running, editing the navigation menu and finally starting discussions and prompting my group members to join in. My Major achievements that I got out of this unit is gaining a wide knowledge and understanding of the Religion’s belief, faith, culture and community. Thus, all the way through the unit I have learnt a few things on the way, such as importance of praying 5 times a day, the importance of the Quran and the sacred piece of scarf the Muslim women call Hijab or burqa. My parents brought me up through medium strict Buddhism since I was a child, and I’m was always surrounded by the Buddhism community my whole life. They constantly encourage me to follow what is good, either through passing this harmony to others or always keeping Buddha in my heart during time I pray. Studying this topic has cultivated my own spiritual path, and deepened my understanding of my own faith tradition as it guides and broadens the way I view both my religion and other religions in an equal way.