Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A few years ago, I was at a parish council meeting. It began with the gospel reading we heard today, where Jesus says to the Canaanite woman, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs” (Mt 15:26). One of the parish council members, who was also a mother, said something very interesting about Jesus’ response. She said, “A mother will do anything for her children, even be willing to be called a dog.” And then she said, “It took a persistent mother to teach the world that God belongs to all and all belong to God!”
This gospel reading raises a lot of questions. The main question is if Jesus was being discriminatory. To better understand Jesus, I will give you the historical context for Jesus’ words, and in my third point I will offer us some practical implications.
Old Testament Context
To understand the story of the Canaanite woman, we must first understand history of the people of God. Let us begin with the first reading. Isaiah’s statement, “…my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Is 56:6-7) is key to understanding today’s gospel reading. Israel’s story begins with Abraham. Later it led to the choice of an insignificant, powerless, and enslaved people as God’s own people. God did not choose because Israel was worthy but precisely because Israel was unworthy.
However, God’s choice of Israel was not an exclusive choice. The plan was that all other peoples would find Israel’s existence, her relationship with God, and her relationship among its own people so fascinating, that every nation would come to know, love, and do homage to Israel’s God. Hence, the words in today’s first reading, “The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD… them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Is 56:6-7). God’s vision for salvation is a universal vision.
New Testament Context
In the second reading, Paul’s words, “I am speaking to you Gentiles” (Rom 11:32), is not only key to the continuation of Isaiah’s vision but also to gain further understanding into Jesus’ interaction with the Canaanite woman. God’s plan for Israel to be the magnet for other nations did not play out well. In fact, Jesus became the epitome of Israel’s rejection of her election by God. On the other hand, in the post-resurrection times, the Gentile world became the hotspot for Christian movement. In the early church, this created great tensions between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. The children versus stray dog language serves to highlight the tension between Jewish and Gentile Christians.
But Matthew also tells us how the tension can be resolved. The encounter between Jesus and Canaanite mother happened in the region of Tyre and Sidon, both of which were pagan territories. In other words, contrary to accepted practice, Jesus had crossed into forbidden territory. However, there is a larger movement from the Canaanite mother, who represents the Gentiles in the early Church. She addresses Jesus as, “Lord, Son of David!” (Mt 15:22). That is a Messianic title.
In other words, whereas Jesus broke geographical barriers the Canaanite woman crossed a theological barrier and accepted him as Messiah. The important thing also is that there is a movement from both sides, and it leads to a miracle. Through the passage Matthew tells us that in the early Church, Gentiles Christians have the same place as the Jewish Christians. In fact, he sets Gentiles Christians as examples of faith.
Practical Implications
Let me offer three practical implications from today’s readings. First, there simply is no substitute for faith. The mother who pleads for her daughter’s healing puts no limits on what she will do for her daughter. In one sense, she represents God, who will do everything for God’s children. God gave us Jesus. Jesus showed us God unfathomable love. Jesus loved us more than his own life. Now it is our turn to put our faith in God’s love.
Second, too many people are making claims to exclusivity in our world. More and more people are rejecting others based on their race, nationality, religion, gender, class, citizenship, and other factors. What about us? Are there people whom we ignore? Are there people whom we treat with disdain and contempt? Are there people we call dogs, or perhaps even worse? Perhaps we might consider breaking some barriers and entering into alien territory and get to know others a little better. I hope we can learn from that mother at the parish council who said, “God belongs to all, and all belong to God!” Perhaps we can learn from today’s scripture where God says, “My house is a house of God for all peoples.”
Third, we must be a people of dialogue. In the gospels Jesus entered into dialogue with other people outside the realms of Israelite society – the Samaritan woman, the Syrophoenician woman, and the Roman centurion whose servant was healed. In all these instances, dialogue between people who did not get along or were even enemies, led to miracles. We live in a very toxic time today. I believe that more ever, there is a tremendous need for dialogue now. Dialogue and conversations lead to positive outcomes, and even miracles.
The Eucharist is a Sacrament of love. Let it be. May it be. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph