Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
In today’s Gospel, we see a stark contrast between the attitude of Jesus’ heart and that of his disciples toward a woman in need. This startling account highlights how very much we, too, stray from the heart of God. Our Lord’s Gospel always functions as a mirror, inviting us to peer into it and examine ourselves. We might ask ourselves today, do I tend to be merciful or unmerciful?
Our Gospel begins, “. . . a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, ‘Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.’” Allow yourself to imagine the enormous angst and desperation of this woman. Imagine the trauma and intense suffering being experienced by both mother and daughter. Now consider the immediate response of the disciples: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” Send her away?! What?! This woman is asking for mercy (a more literal translation of the term “pity” used here.) It’s a very grave matter to refuse someone mercy . . .
Hold that thought and consider the context. On Monday, we read the account of the feeding of the five thousand in the previous chapter. Did you notice how that narrative began? Jesus had learned of the horrific death of John the Baptist and was attempting to withdraw to a deserted place by himself. Imagine the intensity of Jesus’ emotions – no doubt immense grief, sorrow, anger, frustration . . . He needed time alone with his Father to process this traumatic loss. But he had no opportunity for what he needed because the crowds followed him. Notice Jesus’ response to the crowds: “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.” Moved with pity; Cured their sick. Not only that, but despite being overcome with shock and grief, Jesus proceeded to perform one of his greatest merciful miracles, the one that in fact prefigures the Eucharist.
Back to the Canaanite woman, who came along not long after, Jesus of course shows her mercy too, affirming her courageous faith and healing her daughter. In both accounts, Jesus set aside his own needs, cultural bias, and personal agenda in order to demonstrate mercy to people in need.
You and I are confronted every day with people who are in need of our mercy. What is our response? Do we, like the disciples, tend to dismiss people whom we dislike and distrust because they come from a different culture? How about those who inconvenience, offend, or frighten us? What is the attitude of our hearts toward people who reject or alienate us? What emotions rise up within us when confronted with differing viewpoints or political persuasions? Are we angry, critical and hostile? How about the suffering of the poor, the refugee, the homeless, the immigrant? When we come face-to-face with the suffering Christ in our brothers and sisters, do we like the disciples say, “Send her away?!”
In order to extend the merciful heart of Jesus, we as his followers must receive the merciful heart of Jesus. Until or unless it truly and deeply sinks in that we – you and I – have been forgiven SO much, we will remain unable to offer mercy to others when it’s difficult or inconvenient. It’s so easy to fall into spiritual pride and believe the lie that we’re somehow ok and everyone else is the problem. Your sins nailed Jesus to the Cross; my sins held him there. He bore the weight of our sin, shame, and suffering because of his merciful love. Jesus withholds mercy from no one. How can we look him in the eye as we behold him on the Cross or receive him in the Eucharist and refuse to show mercy to one another? It’s ridiculous and nonsensical that you or I should ever withhold mercy from anyone. Jesus died for that person whom we might pridefully deem unworthy of our mercy. Jesus does not withhold his mercy from us. How can we expect to receive mercy and then not be merciful?
Let us meditate on Jesus’ Sacred Heart today. If you have the opportunity this week, please spend some time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Let us ask our Lord for more of his Sacred Heart; let us more fully open ourselves to receive his mercy and allow the extravagance of it to overwhelm us. Then, let us be a channel, a conduit, for Jesus to pour out his mercy on others through us. We are his merciful heart, hands, and voices in this world. Let us deny no one mercy. Blessed Mother, please lend us your heart; lead us deeper into the merciful heart of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ.
I’ll see you in the Eucharist,
Elizabeth Wells