TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Isaiah 56: 1, 6-7; Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15: 21-28

(Rev. Dr. Francis Perry Azah)

In today’s readings, God shows us how He has elevated the status of foreigners (Christian Gentiles who never belonged to the ranks of the people of God) to that of citizens of heaven because of their belief in and commitment to Christ. They have been re-created and made a new people of God. By God’s grace, you and I belong to this new people of God, the New Israel, and the citizens of heaven if we truly believe in, and are committed to, Christ.

The qualities we see in the woman in today’s Gospel are persistence and perseverance. She knows what she wants and who can help her. With ferocity like a dog going after a bone, she keeps going after Jesus until she gets what she wants. We need to take a closer look at this story to really understand just how persistent she was. The scene is set to make it clear that she was a Canaanite woman – why is this important? It shows that Jesus and the woman were enemies.

Those from the land of Cana did not get along with the household of Israel. So, she pleads with Jesus to help her. Not really her, but her daughter who was suffering greatly. What parent would not do whatever was in their power to get help for their sick child? She comes seeking help for her daughter, and after she pleads with Jesus, he does something that seems “un-Christ-like”, indeed “un-God-like”. He turns a deaf ear.

The God whom we say hears the cry of the poor does not listen to the cry of this poor woman – initially. This does not stop the woman. She’s like a pursuer around Jesus and keeps crying out. She follows Jesus and his disciples, and at every chance she continues to beg him to help. Eventually the apostles have had enough of her pestering; they have grown weary of her stalking Jesus. They tell Jesus to get rid of this woman, this stalker. Still it does not stop her from crying out.

Finally, Jesus continues his “un-God-like” reaction by basically telling the woman he has no time for her. His mission is to the lost household of Israel, and he doesn’t have time for her. But this persistent woman refuses to bend. In an almost mocking tone, Jesus basically says his mercy cannot be wasted on the dogs, the outsiders; she continues her onslaught. “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” (Matthew 15:27) She tells Jesus that even though he might not have come for her, she still demands some of his love, mercy, and forgiveness. Jesus then does something remarkable – he changes his mind. God listens to this woman's persistent clamoring and eventually grants her request. This is the persistence of prayer.

What is the virtue, what is the grace that permits her to respond like this to such an apparent insult? It is the virtue of humility. The virtue of humility had so transformed her heart that she, a “pagan” after all, could recognize Jesus as Lord, and that she could endure such apparent harshness. Humility is truly the foundation of all the virtues, for even the slightest hint of pride taints all our good works. Pride darkens our hearts, obscures the Gospel, and prevents us from seeing the truth about ourselves and others. And pride does not need to be absolute, demonic pride such as caused the devil or our first parents to sin. No, pride can be subtle and very comfortable, encouraging us to believe the lie that we are self-sufficient and worthy of God’s grace. Not one of us is worthy of God’s grace. Not one of us is worthy to enter into eternal life.

Honestly, we’re not even worthy to eat the scraps of grace that fall from our Master’s table. But how many of us are prepared to really admit this? Can we, with the Canaanite woman, admit our unworthiness? Do we believe with all our hearts the words we recite before Holy Communion? “Lord, I am not worthy that I should receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed.” Or do we secretly believe in our hearts that we are worthy? That God owes us His grace in abundance, and with explanations for our hardships besides? Jesus holds up the woman’s faith as reason for her daughter’s healing. Clearly, this event signals the inauguration of a new era, a new covenant of grace based on faith in Jesus rather than adherence to the Torah.

The generation of believers to whom Matthew wrote apparently still struggled, as had their ancestors, with the full implications of a prophetic word that offered salvation indiscriminately to all. The act of healing in the gospels is always a sign that the messianic era has been inaugurated in the person of Jesus. Now that we have Christ, we have God. If we have God, then we are God’s children; we are gods, not dogs. If we are God's children, gods — not dogs — healing is now for us. It is now right for Christ to give us the children’s bread, which is healing. Jesus will not deem it right to throw this children's bread (healing) to us; rather, He would prefer to give it to us and, what is more, let us have it. In effect, Jesus teaches that salvation truly is meant for all people. He also pointed out that humility and persistence are good qualities and attitudes to have when asking God’s help. Jesus also teaches that God does not play favorites; He desires to bring his love and mercy to all who turn to him in prayer.