Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 - Wednesday in the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
[Num 13:1-2, 25—14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35 and Matt 15:21-28]"Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." [Matthew]
One of the theological questions that occasionally makes its way to the front of discussion about the church is "What is the mission of the Church?" Is the mission of the Church to "convert" the world to Christianity? Or is the mission of the Church to serve only those who are already baptized or who happen to join? The question is not new. It is reflected in the gospel scripture for today in which a Syro-Phoenician woman (a Canaanite pagan) approaches Jesus on behalf of her daughter who is possessed. She is persistent and irritates those who are surrounding Jesus to the point that they ask Jesus to "Send her away, for she keeps calling after us." Jesus takes advantage of the situation by posing the question about throwing the children's food (the Jews of Palestine) to the "dogs" (a common Jewish term for pagans in that time). The lady's response is quoted above and shows her faith, to which Jesus replies, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish!"
The question became very important when St. Paul began his mission to the Gentiles. He did not think he was taking the food of the children and throwing it to the dogs! Our baptismal commitment requires us to be ready to share the gift of faith with everyone. The behavior of the disciples is scandalous when they try to drive away the pagan woman because she kept asking for help! The gift of salvation is offered to everyone. We who are baptized believers are the "facilitators" in this process. History shows that when we impose faith, it becomes a tragedy. We are called to be faithful, not to impose faith. We are also called to respond to faith wherever we find it and do what we can to help the one who calls out to us. AMEN
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